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SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008

10/16/2008

Allergies to fruits and vegetables

Summary
First reactions to fruits and vegetables can be a result of a primary sensitization to food or a primary sensitization to pollen. In the former, the responsible allergen is found specifically in food, and in the latter, the responsible agent is found in both pollen and food, and primary sensitization comes from inhaling the allergen.

The authors presented two cases, each an example of the two forms of sensitization. Patient one was a 14-year-old female who developed oral allergy syndrome from multiple fruits in several taxonomically unrelated families. This girl was sensitive to profilin. The second patient was an 8-yar-old female with pollen allergies who developed systemic reaction to peaches and apples. She was sensitive to lipid transfer proteins.

Profilin are labile allergens that are present in both pollens and foods. Sensitization occurs through the respiratory tract (pollen profilin). Lipid transfer proteins are heat stable (versus the heat labile profilin), and act as "true food allergens" inducing primary (non-pollen related) sensitization.

Reference
Fernandez-Rivas M, et al. Allergies to fruits and vegetables. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2008; 19(8):675-681.

 

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