Egg Baked Challenge (what RAST is okay?)

FAS has upgraded our forum security. Some members may need to log in again. If you are unable to remember your login information, please email food.allergy.supt@flash.net and we will help you get back in. Thanks for your patience!

admin rebekahc:
AllergyMum
Member
Posted: 07.14.2010 at 02:54:46

07.14.2010 at 01:08:32, Bunny wrote:

--- Quote ---07.14.2010 at 12:36:28, CMdeux wrote:

--- Quote ---I think that I recall that from a conversation with our allergist, AllergyMum...

I think that the 50% pass value is about 7 kU/l on a RAST.

But I don't know if that is baked/not. I'm assuming that it is probably highly cooked.

Our doc is a research afficionado, though, so he definitely READ/heard it somewhere from someone that has done the number-crunching somehow.
--- End quote ---

That is the same info my doc -- who works at a research hospital -- told us. I think it is for baked egg, but our doc's experience is that more than 50% can pass the baked egg challenge with a RAST of 7 or lower. He thought DS had a good chance to pass with a RAST of 8, but that turned out not to be the case. We had the distinction of being the first "fail" among all his patients that he challenged for baked egg. Bummer.
--- End quote ---

So frustrating. My DS had been going down from a high of 1.9 as the highest number with a low of 0.73 last year (he was 2 yrs old last year). However when we tested this year he was a 9. This year’s test was taken only 3 weeks after a anx reaction (to dairy we believe) that resulted in terrible eczema for over 3 weeks, so perhaps that is why the number jumped (maybe just wishful thinking). As DS was only 2 last year so we decided to wait till he was a bit older to food challenge in hope he might outgrow this year like he had the previous year when the numbers for oat & peas had the same decreasing pattern & he outgrew them..... I feel like kicking myself cause looking at his numbers perhaps he might have passed last year if we would have pushed it, but we really wanted to give him a chance to outgrow himself. Hopefully you understand what I am saying as I feel like I am talking in circles with myself.

DS - Dairy, Egg, PN, TN, Drug allergies

http://allergymum.blogspot.com/

Canada

admin rebekahc:
maeve
Member
Posted: 07.14.2010 at 04:04:59

07.14.2010 at 12:36:28, CMdeux wrote:

--- Quote ---I think that I recall that from a conversation with our allergist, AllergyMum...

I think that the 50% pass value is about 7 kU/l on a RAST.

But I don't know if that is baked/not. I'm assuming that it is probably highly cooked.

Our doc is a research afficionado, though, so he definitely READ/heard it somewhere from someone that has done the number-crunching somehow.
--- End quote ---

I'm pretty certain that Dr. Wood's office will not challenge unless there is at least a 50% potential for passing. I seem to remember this being the case with DD's sesame challenge, but they felt confident enough that she would pass that they told us we could try it at home. I, however, didn't want to be the bad guy if things went south so I pushed for the in-office challenge (this was noted as mom being afraid to challenge at home).

"Oh, I'm such an unholy mess of a girl."

Virginia, US
DD: eggs, peanuts, tree nuts; OAS to cantaloupe and cucumber

admin rebekahc:
AllergyMum
Member
Posted: 07.15.2010 at 08:06:11

07.14.2010 at 04:04:59, maeve wrote:

--- Quote ---07.14.2010 at 12:36:28, CMdeux wrote:

--- Quote ---I think that I recall that from a conversation with our allergist, AllergyMum...

I think that the 50% pass value is about 7 kU/l on a RAST.

But I don't know if that is baked/not. I'm assuming that it is probably highly cooked.

Our doc is a research afficionado, though, so he definitely READ/heard it somewhere from someone that has done the number-crunching somehow.
--- End quote ---

I'm pretty certain that Dr. Wood's office will not challenge unless there is at least a 50% potential for passing. I seem to remember this being the case with DD's sesame challenge, but they felt confident enough that she would pass that they told us we could try it at home. I, however, didn't want to be the bad guy if things went south so I pushed for the in-office challenge (this was noted as mom being afraid to challenge at home).
--- End quote ---

Like you I would rather people think I was an afraid Mum that to do a challenge at home.

DS - Dairy, Egg, PN, TN, Drug allergies

http://allergymum.blogspot.com/

Canada

admin rebekahc:
suevv
Member
Posted: 07.19.2010 at 02:11:22

Sorry - I just saw this. We did baked and (and milk) at home on allergist's instruction. I have no idea what his criteria were - but here are DS's numbers (two numbers listed are for 2008 and 2009 results; he is 2.5 yrs old): Egg - 1.43/6.90; Milk 16.3/7.00.

As you can see his egg number went UP significantly at his second test. But the allergist told us to try baked egg, we did, and he has been just fine. He has also been fine with baked milk, though he had an accidental exposure to yogurt a few months ago and reacted so I know he is still allergic to straight milk.

Good luck - hope it works for you as it has really helped with our diet!!

Sue

MandCmama:
Related to my weekend post in "Main"- I have sooo many questions dancing in my head (along with the sugar plums)!
First, a little description of our allergist. She is local, wonderful with children, and really, the only local allergist I know of that deals with food allergies. She appears to keep current with the latest research, but her office practices don't seem to reflect that (ie: she said to challenge RAST and SPT both would have to be negative). She also is only in the office 3 days/week. Knowing that she had a recent difficult struggle with breast cancer, her age, and her limited office hours, I can see her retiring in the near future. This prompted me to pay more out of pocket for the PPO my employer offers. My thought was, when the boys were older I'd want to see someone more aggressive, but in the meantime, if she retires I can travel to one of the relatively close teaching hospitals (CHOP, Hershey, Hopkins).
Soooo....what age to most allergists offer a challenge? C will be 3 in March. He is very verbal, but I don't know if he would be able to communicate subtle symptoms.

If my allergist doesn't seem to think that this unexpected exposure is relevant, is it time to move on?

What other questions should I be asking?