Multiple food allergies are a daily stressor for millions of families. From avoiding social events to fearing accidental exposures, it can feel like living in a constant state of alert. Until recently, there were no FDA-approved treatments that targeted more than one allergen at a time.

In this episode, we break down the study: “Omalizumab for the Treatment of Multiple Food Allergies,” published in 2024 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Known as the OUtMATCH trial, it’s the first large-scale study to show that omalizumab (Xolair), a biologic already used for asthma and hives, may help people with multiple food allergies by raising the threshold for reactions.

We explain how omalizumab works by blocking IgE, the antibody that triggers allergic reactions, and how the study measured changes in reaction thresholds (the amount of an allergen a person can ingest before reacting). We also explore the trial design, results, safety profile, and what all of this means for the day-to-day management of food allergies.

📌 INFOGRAPHIC to follow along 

The Itch Review, hosted by Dr. Gupta, Kortney, and Dr. Blaiss, explores allergy and immunology studies, breaking down complex research in conversations accessible to clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Each episode provides key insights from journal articles and includes a one-page infographic in the show notes for easy reference.

___

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

When people get hives or swelling, they often think it’s caused by an allergy. But in the case of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), the culprit is often your own immune system. CSU isn’t your typical allergic reaction, instead, it’s frequently an autoimmune condition, where the immune system misfires and activates mast cells without any external trigger.

In this episode, Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney unpack what it means for CSU to be autoimmune and autoallergic. They explain how IgE and IgG antibodies can trigger histamine release, leading to hives and swelling. You’ll also learn why allergy testing isn’t useful for diagnosing CSU, and how tests like IgG food sensitivity panels can do more harm than good by leading to unnecessary food avoidance and confusion.

What we cover in our episode about autoimmune CSU and chronic hives:

____

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Novartis for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM) is a rare but often underrecognized clonal mast cell disorder. From random hives to gut pain and brain fog, ISM can feel like a medical mystery.

We continue our review of “Management of indolent mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome - A clinical yardstick,” published in June 2025 in The Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. This is Part 2 of our discussion, with a focus on indolent systemic mastocytosis. We look at what causes it, how it’s diagnosed, and how to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

In this episode, we break down this complex mast cell disease and how doctors use baseline serum tryptase, KIT D816V testing, and HaT screening to find answers. Plus, we explain how treatments like antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and avapritinib can help people live better with ISM.

📌 INFOGRAPHIC to follow along

The Itch Review, hosted by Dr. Gupta, Kortney, and Dr. Blaiss, explores allergy and immunology studies, breaking down complex research in conversations accessible to clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Each episode provides key insights from journal articles and includes a one-page infographic in the show notes for easy reference.

___

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Blueprint Medicines for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a confusing and often misunderstood condition. If you’ve ever wondered about MCAS symptoms, serum tryptase testing, or how treatments like antihistamines, sodium cromolyn, and even omalizumab fit in, this episode is here to help.

We review the findings from “Management of indolent mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome - A clinical yardstick,” published in June 2025 in The Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Because the paper covers both diseases, we’ve split it into two parts. This episode focuses on mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).

GET THE INFOGRAPHIC - summary of this episode

The Itch Review, hosted by Dr. Gupta, Kortney, and Dr. Blaiss, explores allergy and immunology studies, breaking down complex research in conversations accessible to clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Each episode provides key insights from journal articles and includes a one-page infographic in the show notes for easy reference.

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Blueprint Medicines for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

As September approaches, many families notice asthma symptoms getting worse. Ragweed pollen, viral infections, cooler nights, and the stress of back-to-school routines all combine to create Asthma Peak Week, a time when asthma attacks and ER visits spike across the country.

Asthma mom, Sherrina Gibson, joins us to share how her family prepares her 11-year-old daughter for fall asthma challenges. She talks about cleaning routines, school planning, and teaching her daughter self-awareness and empowerment. Dr. Payel Gupta adds medical guidance on asthma action plans and seasonal medication adjustments.

You’ll learn how to spot asthma triggers, prepare your home and school, and teach children to recognize symptoms early so they can act before a flare gets worse.

Parenting with asthma: Sherrina Gibson shares her family’s journey and how they prepare their home and routines each fall.

Asthma management strategies: Cleaning, decluttering, updating medications, and coordinating with schools and coaches.

Asthma Peak Week explained: Why symptoms spike in September and how to get ahead of it.

Asthma action plans: Why every family needs one and how to keep copies at home, school, and on the go.

Empowering kids with asthma: Teaching children to recognize symptoms, use their inhaler properly, and advocate for themselves at school and in sports.

More episodes about asthma

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

As summer winds down and September approaches, many people with asthma notice their symptoms getting worse. This is no coincidence as more asthma triggers appear during this time of year, from pollen and viruses to stress and weather changes. This combination peaks during Asthma Peak Week, a time when asthma attacks and ER visits spike across the country.

Allergist Dr. Kristin Sokol joins us to discuss seasonal asthma triggers, why fall can be especially risky, and how you can prepare to keep your asthma under control.

You’ll learn how to identify your personal triggers, steps to reduce your exposure, and why staying consistent with your medication routine is critical. We also cover tools like an asthma action plan, preparing for school, and making sure caregivers and teachers know how to respond to an asthma flare.

What we cover in our episode about managing asthma triggers during the fall:

More episodes about asthma

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Parenting a child with food allergies can feel overwhelming and isolating. We're joined by licensed therapist and food allergy mom Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, to talk about her new book, May Contain Anxiety, and the often overlooked mental health challenges that food allergy parents face.

We explore how chronic stress, fear, and anxiety can affect parenting, relationships, and family dynamics. Plus, why supporting the mental health of allergy parents is crucial for the entire family’s well-being.

Tamara breaks down evidence-based tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help parents manage food allergy anxiety, build confidence, and feel less alone on this lifelong journey.

May Contain Anxiety is available worldwide in English on September 30th, 2025.

Get 30% off by buying it at Hopkins Press and using the code: HMCA25

Do adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have a higher risk of death over time compared to people without hives?

We review the findings from “Mortality in adult patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: A real-world cohort study,” published in April 2025, in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. While CSU is often considered a non-life-threatening condition, this large study found something surprising: people with CSU had a significantly higher risk of death, especially from suicide.

Dr. G and Dr. Blaiss walk through key takeaways from a dataset of over 272,000 CSU patients and nearly 13 million matched controls. They explore what the results mean for mortality risk, clinical care, mental health screening, and the importance of proper, guideline-based treatment.

INFOGRAPHIC

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Novartis for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

What happens when you target the root cause of indolent systemic mastocytosis?

In this episode of The Itch Review, we unpack key findings from the article “Avapritinib versus Placebo in Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis,” published on May 23, 2023, in NEJM Evidence.

Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM) is a rare chronic disease with life-altering symptoms. Until recently, treatment options were limited. We break down new data from Part 2 of the PIONEER study, which evaluated Avapritinib, a targeted therapy designed to inhibit the KIT D816V mutation that drives ISM.

Dr. Gupta and Dr. Blaiss explain how Avapritinib works, how the study was designed, and what outcomes were measured, including the Total Symptom Score (TSS). Most importantly, we explore what this treatment could mean for patients with moderate to severe ISM.

INFOGRAPHIC

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Blueprint Medicines for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Is it too early to start planning for school when summer has just begun? Not if your child has food allergies.

Dr. Nikki Chase, a board-certified allergist-immunologist, joins us to share what families need to know to prepare for a safe and successful school year. From school forms and emergency plans to when to self-carry epinephrine and how to teach self-advocacy, this episode is filled with practical, real-life guidance.

We discuss how to make the most of your summer doctor visits, why early planning matters, and how newer epinephrine options, like the nasal spray, may help reduce fear and delay in use. You’ll also hear Dr. Chase’s advice on helping kids build confidence and take ownership of their allergy care.

Produced in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to ARS Pharma for sponsoring this episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.