Dictionary of Allergies .. Bioresonance

Bioresonance, also called biophysical information therapy, has been unsuccessfully tried in various forms of allergy . Single case reports and uncontrolled studies claim significant improvements in patients with atopic diseases treated with bioresonance therapy, also called biophysical information therapy (BIT). To assess the efficacy of this alternative method of treatment, we performed a conventional double-blind parallel group study in children hospitalized for long-lasting atopic dermatitis.

Over a period of 1.5 year, 32 children with atopic dermatitis, age range 1.5-16.8 years and hospitalized for 4-6 weeks at the Alpine Children's Hospital Davos, Switzerland, were randomized according to sex, age and severity of the skin disease to receive conventional inpatient therapy and either a putatively active or a sham (placebo) BIT treatment. Short- and long-term outcome within 1 year were assessed by skin symptom scores, sleep and itch scores, blood cell activation markers of allergy, and a questionnaire. Hospitalization and conventional therapy in a high altitude climate resulted in immediate and sustained amelioration of the disease state in both the BIT-treated and sham-treated groups. BIT had no significant additive measurable effect on the outcome variables determined in this study. The statement by protagonists of this alternative form of therapy that BIT can considerably influence or even cure atopic dermatitis was not confirmed using for the first time a conventional double-blind study design. Considering the high costs and false promises caused by the promotors of this kind of therapy, it is concluded that BIT has no place in the treatment of children with atopic dermatitis [1].

Mainstream allergy diagnosis and treatment is based on classical allergy testing which involves well-validated diagnostic methods and proven methods of treatment. By contrast, a number of unproven tests have been proposed for evaluating allergic patients including cytotoxic food testing, ALCAT test, bioresonance, electrodermal testing (electroacupuncture), reflexology, applied kinesiology a.o. There is little or no scientific rationale for these methods. Results are not reproducible when subject to rigorous testing and do not correlate with clinical evidence of allergy[2]. Although some papers suggest a possible pathogenetic role of IgG, IgG4 antibody, no correlation was found between the outcome of double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) [2]   and the levels of either food-specific IgG or IgG4, nor was any difference seen between patients and controls. There is now enough experience with the use of double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) to recommend its use as an office procedure for most patients complaining of adverse reactions to foods [3].

The levels of these and other food-specific immunoglobulins of non-IgE isotype reflect the intake of food in the individual and may thus be a normal and harmless finding. The so-called "Food Allergy Profile" with simultaneous IgE and IgG determination against more than 100 foodstuffs is neither economical nor useful for diagnosis. DBPCFC must be the reference standard for food hypersensitivity and any new test must be validated by it. As a result, all these unproven techniques may lead to misleading advice or treatments, and their use is not advised.

References

1. Wüthrich B. Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2005;15(2):86-90.
2. Bock SA, Sampson HA, Atkins FM, Zeiger RS, Lehrer S, Sachs M, Bush RK, Metcalfe DD. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) as an office procedure: a manual. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 Dec;82(6):986-97. Comment in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1990 Jan;85(1 Pt 1):139. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991 Jan;87(1 Pt 1):136-7.

3. Schöni MH, Nikolaizik WH, Schöni-Affolter F. Efficacy trial of bioresonance in children with atopic dermatitis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1997 Mar;112(3):238-46.