Recruiting
Natural History and Genetics of Food Allergy and Related Conditions
Background:
\- About 15 million Americans have a food allergy. Because there are no cures or effective prevention or treatment for food allergies, researchers want to learn more about them.
Objective:
\- To learn more about the causes and effects of food allergy and related conditions.
Eligibility:
* People ages 2 99 who have food allergy and/or a related genetic or other condition
* Their relatives
* Healthy relatives and volunteers
Design:
* Participants will have at least 3 visits over 1 2 years, and then once a year for up to 12 years. Each may last a day or longer.
* Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and questionnaires.
* Participants may have the following:
* Blood tests
* Allergy skin prick tests: Drops of allergens are placed on the back or arm. The skin is scratched under each drop.
* Leukapheresis: blood is taken from a needle in one arm, passed through a machine, and returned through a needle in the other arm.
* X-rays
* Esophageal string test: One end of a string is taped to the cheek and the other end is packed into a capsule. When the capsule is swallowed, the string unwinds; it is left in for at least 1 hour.
* EGD and colonoscopy: Biopsies are taken from the gastrointestinal system.
* Tiny biopsies of skin
* Photographs of the body
* Collection of cells through:
* Swab of nose, inside of cheek, or skin
* Gentle skin scrape
* Tape stripping: piece of tape is put on the skin and pulled off.