What is FPIES?

FPIES is a severe delayed food allergy of the gut, it is understood to be a T-cell mediated response, a Non-IgE Food Allergy in which food is considered a foreign invader and the body fights, or attacks it, until it can violently expel it; although the exact mechanisms are still not well understood.

Symptoms include: profound vomiting (often to bile), diarrhea and/or constipation. These symptoms can quickly lead to: lethargy, low body temperature, low blood pressure and in severe cases, sepsis-like shock. And still yet, many parents report children also experiencing many discomforting symptoms while the body fights this reaction and these can include: extreme stomach pains, excessive gas, runny stools with or without mucus/blood, acid reflux, rashes/eczema, sleep disturbance, and agitation/inconsolable crying.

FPIES is a clinical diagnosis (based on symptoms and history) there is currently no test for it.

This is my definition of FPIES, defined by my own research in: medical journal articles, other families living through FPIES I 'meet' on the support groups and, of course, my own son. You can learn more about my research in FPIES here on this blog, and at The FPIES Foundation website.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

An individualized treatment plan....

Earlier this week, I read an article released on Medscape as part of a report on Challenging Diagnosis in Allergy and GI.  It features this article: “Recent Advances in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis” by Shauna Schroeder, Dan Atkins, and Glenn T. Furuta. ( http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/731955?src=ptalk ).   The Abstract reads: “First described nearly 20 years ago, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal epithelium. Over 50% of the current literature on EoE has been published in the last 3 years, signaling both a rising incidence and increased recognition of this disorder. Treatment options available for patients with EoE include dietary management and/or pharmacologic therapy. An individualized approach to treatment is preferred, with an emphasis on patient–parental preference. The objective of this article is to discuss the current and future treatment options for EoE.”

I read this article, and am encouraged by such advances in the understandings of EoE treatments.  My hope is to someday (soon) be reading an article such as this about FPIES.  There has also been increased literature publication on FPIES in the past 3 years.  As advances in EGID’s (Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders) emerge, it is promising for FPIES research; the more definition behind this gastrointestinal illness brings further delineations in what needs to be researched for definitions to other gastrointestinal disorders, such as FPIES, protein-induced enertopathy, protein-induced colitis and proctocolitis.  The spectrum of these protein induced gastrointestinal disorders will all benefit from these advances.   FPIES reactions themselves can be classic or chronic, there seems to be a spectrum within these for those affected by FPIES and it varies in each child.   FPIES mechanisms are still not fully understood. Fortunately, there is some understandings of the potential mechanisms with advances in cellular research; but one thing that remains a standard in FPIES treatment as it does in EGID’s treatments is “An individualized approach to treatment is preferred, with an emphasis on patient–parental preference.”