Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge in adults in everyday clinical practice: a reappraisal of their limitations and real indications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is widely considered as the 'gold standard' for the diagnosis of food allergy. However, in adult patients, this procedure is rather rarely performed outside the academic context. This review article aims to reappraise the pros and cons of DBPCFC and to elicit some critical thoughts and discussions about the real indications of this diagnostic procedure in adult patients in everyday practice.

RECENT FINDINGS: There are many data showing that the DBPCFC poses a number of critical problems that are difficult to overcome in normal outpatient clinics and hospitals, and that are generally not addressed in most articles dealing with this issue.

SUMMARY: Performing DBPCFC poses a number of practical problems and has several pitfalls, which make its routine use in normal clinical settings generally impossible. This review article shows that the need for this procedure in adult patients seems in effect very little and specifies new, more limited indications to its use in everyday practice. Further, it suggests a role for the open challenge, which lacks several of the disadvantages of DBPCFC.