1/7. Occupational IgE-mediated asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria caused by Easter lily (lilium longiflorum) and tulip.BACKGROUND: We report on IgE-mediated asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria to two liliaceae plants, tulip and Easter lily (lilium longiflorum), diagnosed in a floral shop worker. methods: Occupational asthma was diagnosed according to patient history, PEF monitoring, and a work-simulating provocation test. Flower-specific IgE was studied, and RAST inhibition tests were performed. RESULTS: Skin prick testing showed positive reactions to tulip, Easter lily, and chrysanthemum. Total IgE was 180 kU/I, and specific IgE to tulip was 2.6 and to Easter lily 6.5 kU/I. In the RAST-inhibition test, no cross-reactivity was found. Occupational asthma was diagnosed by peak flow monitoring at work and at home, as well as specific inhalation challenge with Easter lily, with an immediate 18% reduction in PEF. In addition, contact urticaria and conjunctivitis were diagnosed. After a 9-year follow-up without exposure to lilies, the skin prick tests to L. longiflorum and tulip were still positive, but the specific IgE had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: A case of IgE-mediated occupational asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria caused by L. longiflorum and tulip is presented. RAST inhibition tests indicated concomitant sensitization to the two liliaceae plants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. recurrence of allergic rhinitis, previously alleviated with allergen immunotherapy, after autologous bone marrow transplant.BACKGROUND: Several associations between immunoglobulin e and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have been reported. OBJECTIVE: A patient whose allergic rhinitis (AR) resolved after allergen immunotherapy (AIT) but recurred after the patient received an autologous BMT is reported. methods: Allergy skin tests were performed before AIT began and after 4 years of therapy. skin tests were repeated after a recurrence of symptoms 6 years later after an autologous BMT for breast cancer. RESULTS: Six years of AIT led to a near complete resolution of AR symptoms. skin tests showed a marked reduction in reactivity to allergens in the AIT. After an additional 6-year symptom-free interval off AIT, symptoms returned after the BMT. Repeat skin tests showed a marked increase in reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: patients reconstituting their immune systems after autologous BMT may have a recurrence of AR previously suppressed with AIT.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Cross-reactivity between obeche wood (Triplochiton scleroxylon) and natural rubber latex.BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that allergy to natural rubber latex is associated with cross reactivity to other plants. We have investigated a possible cross reactivity with a tree belonging to the sterculiaceae family, Tryplochiton scleroxylon, in a patient allergic to obeche wood, that began to suffer symptoms of allergy in contact with latex. methods: Determinations of specific IgE by CAP to obeche, natural rubber latex (NRL) and recombinant allergens of latex were done. immunoblotting was performed to study allergens detected by serum of our patient. CAP-inhibition methods were used to study cross-reactive between NRL and obeche wood. RESULTS: In obeche extract, 4 bands were found of an apparent molecular weight of 18, 38, 75 and 199 kDa. In NRL extract the allergens have a molecular weight around 18, 21, 32, 38, 60, 70 and 199 kDa. IgE to latex was almost completely inhibited (96%) by the obeche extract in CAP-inhibition studies. Using obeche extract as inhibitor, IgE binding to native hevein (nHevb 6.02) was reduced by 25%. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in CAP-inhibition demonstrate the existence of cross-reactivity between proteins in NRL and obeche wood. In our patient, a band of apparent molecular weight of 38 kDa could be the most important allergen.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Acalypha wilkesiana allergy.BACKGROUND: Acalypha wilkesiana, or copperleaf, is a plant of the euphorbiaceae family. Although it is widely known as an outdoor ornamental plant, no cases of A. wilkesiana allergy have been reported to date. OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with occupational respiratory allergy to A. wilkesiana. methods: Extracts from A. wilkesiana leaves and flowers were used for skin prick testing, specific conjunctival and bronchial challenge tests, and in vitro studies. These studies range from A. wilkesiana specific IgE determination to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunodetection of A. wilkesiana protein bands in patient serum samples and immunoblot inhibition by preincubation with salsola kali and chenopodium album pollen extracts. RESULTS: Our patient had positive skin prick test reactions to A. wilkesiana leaf and flower extracts; negative reactions were found in a control group of 20 atopic patients. On immunodetection of A. wilkesiana extracts in patient serum samples, as many as 9 different IgE-binding proteins, with apparent molecular weights of 16 to 86 kDa, were revealed. Preincubation with S. kali and C. album pollen extracts completely inhibited IgE binding to the A. wilkesiana extract. Specific bronchial challenge resulted in a spirometric 30% decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second with respect to baseline 1 minute after 1:100 (vol/vol) A. wilkesiana extract solution inhalation; 2 atopic controls had negative bronchial challenge test results. CONCLUSION: Acalypha wilkesiana is a new etiologic agent for IgE-mediated occupational respiratory allergy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Allergy to ficus benjamina (weeping fig) in nonatopic subjects.Occupational allergy to ficus benjamina (Fb), or weeping fig, occurs in about one in four plant-keepers. Sensitization to this plant occurs in about 3-4% of persons with clear-cut atopy. I now report on four female nonatopic patients with rhinoconjunctivitis who were sensitized only to weeping fig. All four had a positive skin prick test and RAST test to Fb. The identification of a preventable respiratory allergen is of considerable importance for the patient. Inclusion of Fb in the standard prick test panel may therefore be considered. Furthermore, the findings suggest that it may be unwise to choose Fb as an ornamental indoor plant.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Allergy to the ornamental indoor green plant tradescantia (Albifloxia).We report on a 32-year-old atopic female office employee with a moderate tree pollinosis who also suffered from indoor-related perennial rhinoconjunctivitis. Once when she repotted her two ornamental nonflowering green plants of the genus tradescantia (synonym; Albifloxia; family commelinaceae), she immediately experienced itching of the face, throat, and conjunctiva; swelling of the lips; and dyspnea and wheezing. Skin prick tests with the leaves of tradescantia (T. albifloxia and T. fluminensis) (Ta and Tf) were strongly positive as was the specific IgE to Ta leaves extract. On RAST inhibition studies, no cross-reactivity was found between Ta and ficus benjamina (weeping fig), a nonflowering green plant, which produces, in its milky sap, an important respiratory allergen. Green plants should be considered potential indoor allergens and tested in plant-keepers referred for allergologic investigation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. asthma caused by ficus benjamina latex: evidence of cross-reactivity with fig fruit and papain.BACKGROUND: ficus benjamina or weeping fig is a plant used increasingly for indoor decoration that can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma. OBJECTIVE: We report a clinical and immunologic study in a patient with perennial asthma caused by F. benjamina latex in whom several episodes of angioedema of the oropharyngeal tract and tongue followed ingestion of figs and kiwi. methods: hypersensitivity to latex from F. benjamina and from hevea brasiliensis, fig fruit, kiwi, papain, and bromelain was investigated by means of skin prick test, specific IgE determination by CAP, histamine release test, and bronchial provocation test to F. benjamina latex. CAP-inhibition assays were carried out to study possible cross-reactivity among these antigens. RESULTS: hypersensitivity to F. benjamina latex, fig, kiwi, and proteases was demonstrated by means of skin prick test, determination of specific IgE and histamine release test. Bronchial provocation test with F. benjamina latex resulted in a dual asthmatic reaction, confirming the etiologic role of this plant. A rise of eosinophil cationic protein in patient's serum was observed 21 hours after bronchial challenge, suggesting activation of eosinophils. Inhibition assays showed that F. benjamina latex as liquid-phase inhibited up to 95% the CAP to fig and up to 57% the CAP to papain. Neither sensitization nor cross-allergenicity with H. brasiliensis latex was found. CONCLUSIONS: hypersensitivity to F. benjamina latex may cause IgE-mediated respiratory allergy. The association with allergy to fig and papain is likely due to the existence of cross-reactive allergen structures.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |