title: Immediate and delayed contact hypersensitivity to verbena plants.
abstract: Plants from the Verbenaceae family may cause contact dermatitis of unknown nature. This report describes 2 cases of allergic reactions to the Verbena species. A teenage boy developed an anaphylactic allergic response following contact with the leaves of Verbena hybrida. Characterization of the patient's specific IgE response to Verbena hybrida, using Western blots and autoradiography, identified the specific 62000 Dalton allergen present in the verbena leaves to which the patient reacted. This is the first report of an IgE-mediated immediate contact hypersensitivity reaction to Verbena hybrida, a common perennial in South African gardens. The other case was a 23-year-old female gardener who developed immediate and delayed-type contact dermatitis from Verbena elegans 'Cleopatra' produced in a Danish nursery. Prick tests to plant material were considered positive and of an allergic nature.
authors.affiliation: Allergology Unit Department of Clinical Science and Immunology, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lockey
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Knottenbelt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D001345:Autoradiography; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003718:Denmark; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects; D010944:Plants; D012882:Skin Tests; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E