Some promising findings were announced today regarding nut allergy research at the division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke University:

Studies Show Children Can Complete Treatment for Peanut Allergies and Achieve Long-Term Tolerance

According to the release, a carefully administered daily dose of peanuts was so successful as a therapy for peanut allergies that a select group of children is now off treatment and eating peanuts daily. “It appears these children have lost their allergies,” says Wesley Burks, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke. “This gives other parents and children hope that we’ll soon have a safe, effective treatment that will halt allergies to certain foods.”

The prospect of a cure, or at least a treatment, is positively thrilling. But it does appear that this study was targeted exclusively at treatment for peanut allergy and no other nuts. The press release mentions tree nuts, but only when it refers to peanuts as a type of tree nut, which is an error. I’ve contacted Duke in an effort to find out more and will post here if I get any further information.

I’m wondering if this approach has been tried for tree nut allergies? If any readers are aware of any trials using this desensitization method for tree nuts, please let us know!

Direct link to press release from Duke Medicine:
http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/News/studies_show_children_can_complete_treatment_for_peanut_allergies_and_achieve_long_term_tolerance

Direct link to story from USA Today:
Researchers move closer to cracking peanut allergies
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-15-peanut-allergies_N.htm

Direct link to story from ABC News:
Is There a Cure for Peanut Allergies?
Young Participants in a University Study Lost Their Sensitivity to Peanuts After Food Was Slowly Introduced to Their Daily Diets
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/Story?id=7088457&page=1