Severity assessment of food allergies according to DEFASE criteria in the German healthcare system (d-DEFASE): Position paper of the Association of German Allergists (AeDA) and the Society for Pediatric Allergology and Environmental Medicine (GPA)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Stefania Arasi - , IRCCS Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù - Roma (Author)
  • Lars Lange - , GFO Hospitals Bonn (Author)
  • Katharina Blümchen - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Nora Knappe - , Pediatric Center Dresden-Friedrichstadt (Kid) (Author)
  • Katja Nemat - , Pediatric Center Dresden-Friedrichstadt (Kid) (Author)
  • Randolf Brehler - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Stefani Röseler - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Michael Gerstlauer - , University Hospital Augsburg (Author)
  • Jan Hagemann - , Center for Rhinology and Allergology Wiesbaden (Author)
  • Friederike Bärhold - , Center for Rhinology and Allergology Wiesbaden (Author)
  • Ingrid Casper - , Center for Rhinology and Allergology Wiesbaden (Author)
  • Philippe Eigenmann - , Geneva University Hospitals (Author)
  • Alessandro Fiocchi - , IRCCS Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù - Roma (Author)
  • Ludger Klimek - , Center for Rhinology and Allergology Wiesbaden (Author)
  • Christian Vogelberg - , Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Background: There is currently no standardized evaluation system in Germany for defining and classifying the severity of IgE-mediated food allergies (FA). Following the development of the international classification system named DEFASE (Definition of Food Allergy Severity), this evaluation system is now also being introduced in Germany and its applicability in the German healthcare system is being tested. Methods: An international consensus was reached on DEFASE through a two-stage process (systematic literature review followed by an e‑Delphi). Conclusion: The DEFASE score is the first comprehensive classification of the severity of a FA that takes into account not only the severity of an individual reaction, but the entire scenario of the disease, including the clinical features alongside patient’s reported outcomes and economic burden. It is important that an international consensus has been reached on a scoring system for FA, which can now also be used in Germany as d‑DEFASE. The scoring system is currently tested in research projects to be introduced soon into clinical practice, targeting these models to various food allergenic sources, populations, and settings.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-120
Number of pages8
JournalAllergo Journal International
Volume34
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • DEFASE score, Definition of food allergy severity, Food allergies, Rating system, Trigger dose