Christina Ciaccio, MD, MSc: Treating Patients with Arachis Hypogaea

Treating a patient with Arachis hypogaea (Palforzia) requires the child allergic to peanut to consume a tiny dose of peanut protein each day. Such treatment, considered novel, could allow for the dose to slowly be bumped up to make peanuts bite-safe for children.

“This is quite a bit different from other therapies and other pill options that we are used to giving our patients,” Christina Ciaccio, MD, MSc, of the University of Chicago Medical Center, said in a recent interview with HCPLive®.

The difference between Arachis hypogaea and other treatments for peanut allergy is the child is actually being given peanuts. With that, there is a risk of the child having an allergic reaction.

Providers must talk extensively to the family before using this treatment. Families are asked to be diligent about the dose being taken at the same time every day and for the child to eat a large meal at the same time to decrease the risk of stomach pains.

Another big thing that must be remembered is the child cannot get their heart rate up for 2-3 hours after they have their dose.

“What we don’t want is for the peanut protein to get into the bloodstream too quickly, we want it to slowly be introduced to the immune system on any given day,” Ciaccio said.

If patients are counseled and aware of the guidelines, they tend to do well on the therapy, she concluded.