Study reveals the complex interplay of immune dysfunction, gut health, and immunosuppressants in the rise of food allergies among young organ transplant recipients. Study: Transplant-Acquired Food Allergy in Children . Image Credit: Ground Picture / Shutterstock.
com In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients , researchers review the phenomenon of transplant-acquired food allergies, which commonly occur in pediatric transplant recipients within one year after the organ transplantation. What causes food allergies? The prevalence of food allergies is increasing worldwide, especially in developed countries where up to 10% of the population is estimated to be affected by this condition. Food allergies, which arise due to a heightened immune response to certain foods, can lead to a wide range of symptoms, from mild skin reactions to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Transplant-acquired food allergies typically affect children who have undergone organ transplantation to manage end-state organ failure, cancer, or autoimmune diseases. Epidemiological studies indicate that food allergies often occur in children who have undergone liver transplantation. However, these allergies have also been reported in children who have received heart, lung, cord blood, kidney, or intestine transplants.
Pathogenetic theories on the development of atopy following organ transplantation. Figure created with BioRender.com.
The foods that are most commonly associated with transplant-acquired a.