A Professional Spotlight on FPIES: Foundation Medical Advisory Board Member, Dr. J.Andrew Bird, Participates in FPIES Discussions at AAAAI

A Professional Spotlight on FPIES:

Foundation Medical Advisory Board Member, Dr. J.Andrew Bird, Participates in FPIES Discussions at AAAAI

This article references:“Trends in ProviderManagement of Patients with Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome” 

Dr. Bird, tell us about this year’s annual meeting-- we were thrilled to hear about your presentation there! Could you share with us more about it?

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) held its annual meeting in Houston, Texas this past February.  During the meeting, data was presented from a recent survey distributed to the AAAAI membership aimed at understanding allergists’ current practices and potential knowledge gaps in regards to diagnosis and management of FPIES.  As a member of the Adverse Reactions to Food Committee, I was asked to assist Drs. Matthew Greenhawt at the University of Michigan and Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York in developing and distributing the survey.    

What did this survey show?

• Four hundred seventy allergists responded to the survey (10.8%) of AAAAI members.  The majority (88%) were from the U.S. and most were in private practice (61%). 

• Milk/soy FPIES was managed by 74% of respondents, and approximately 60% have managed solid food FPIES. 

• When given a clinical scenario 80% of respondents were able to correctly identify FPIES. 

• Knowledge gaps were found in the ability to correctly manage FPIES, in particular with choice of appropriate formula for a child with either cow’s milk or soy FPIES. 

• Elemental formula was identified as an appropriate substitute by only 64% for cow’s milk FPIES patients and 68% for soy FPIES patients. 

• Additional variability in management was seen in consensus amongst allergists regarding whether diagnostic testing was necessary or useful and,

• Overall, oral food challenges are underutilized for reintroduction of triggering foods.

What would you say are the important conclusions from this survey for those living with FPIES?

Results from the survey provided firm data regarding needs to be addressed in the allergy community in order to take better care of children with FPIES.  Formal guidelines for care and management of children with FPIES are currently being developed and will assist with standardization of practices amongst physicians caring for children with FPIES.

J. Andrew Bird, MD is Board-Certified in Allergy and Immunology.  Dr.Bird is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics of the Food Allergy Center at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Texas.

Thank you, Dr. Bird! For future professional spotlights on FPIES, be sure to subscribe to The FPIES Foundation's blog!

This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation