Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral cromolyn in children with atopic dermatitis and documented food hypersensitivity.

Ten children with challenge-proven egg hypersensitivity and atopic dermatitis were enrolled in a double-blind crossover trial of oral cromolyn sodium. After receiving up to 40 mg/kg/day of cromolyn or placebo for 1 week, patients underwent double-blind placebo-controlled oral food challenges. In the eight subjects who reacted to the food challenge, there was no significant difference in the amount of food allergen eliciting the positive response, the timing of onset until first subjective or objective symptoms developed, symptoms provoked, or the duration of the symptoms in either phase of the study. This study demonstrates no benefit in the treatment of children with atopic dermatitis and food hypersensitivity with oral cromolyn sodium.