title: Allergy to birch pollen and apple, and cross-reactivity of the allergens studied with the RAST.
abstract: Apple-pulp allergens are unstable, but fresh material can be used for skin testing. In this study stable allergens, probably of a protein nature, were extracted from apple seed and used in radioallergosorbent tests (RAST). Apple-seed allergens were shown by RAST inhibition to cross-react with birch pollen allergen(s). Cross-reactivity may explain the frequent co-occurrence of birch pollen and apple allergy. Approximately 50% of patients in a group with immediate hypersensitivity to birch pollen were also sensitive to apple as judged by a history of symptoms, skin tests with apple-pulp and apple-seed preparations, and apple-seed RAST.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E