A study suggests that BTK medication could save lives and help many people with allergic reactions.
Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction considered serious and can be fatal. It occurs within seconds to minutes after the person has contact with the allergen, that is, what causes the allergy.
Allergy can occur with food, medicines and in contact with animals, such as the sting of a bee, for example. If the blood pressure of the person having this reaction drops too low or if the airway closes without being able to breathe, it may cause anaphylactic shock.
There are drugs on the market that can inhibit this serious reaction of an enzyme called “Bruton’s tyrosine kinase” or BTK, which is found inside cells. By inhibiting this enzyme, cells cannot be activated by allergens and the allergic antibody.
It would be possible, in addition to avoiding contact with the allergen, also to predict this reaction by taking these oral medications, according to Dr. Bruce Bochner, professor of medicine at Northswestern University in the United States. He believes that a pill could be life-changing and life-saving if taken proactively to prevent serious allergic reactions. For example, in the case of someone who is allergic to antibiotics, but needs to take the medicine.
A study on this treatment, analyzed using modified cells in mice, has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation . For now, it is known that the drug would be effective in preventing anaphylaxis, but the researchers want to continue studying the composition to find out if it might also have an effect on reversing symptoms if the person is already suffering from the allergic reaction.
Although BTK inhibitors are already on the market, the prices are high and have not yet been tested in children, who tend to suffer more from some types of allergies, such as food allergies.
FUNIBER promotes studies in the area of Nutrition and Health for professionals interested in expanding training in this field. For example, the Doctorate in Nutrition or the Specialization in Allergies and Food Intolerances.