Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy greatly increases the risk of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions rather than preventing them as intended, a review of trials has found.

And despite achieving the immunological goal of desensitisation, the experimental treatment failed to improve quality of life compared with the standard of care, the researchers say.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of peanut allergy oral immunotherapy trials, researchers from McMaster University, Canada, analysed data from 12 studies with more than 1000 children (mean age 8.7 years), and an average year’s follow-up, to determine its safety profile and efficacy.

They found that compared with placebo or allergen avoidance, oral immunotherapy more than tripled the risk of anaphylaxis — from a baseline risk of 7% to 22% with therapy.