Occupational allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma due to fennel seed.
BACKGROUND
A patient with complaints of rhinitis and asthma occurring at work presented for consultation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of the foods and spices with which he worked, in the causation of his complaints, and to evaluate his immune reactivity to these materials.


METHODS
Allergy skin testing and in vitro RAST assays were carried out. After demonstrating specific reactivity to fennel, SDS-PAGE electrophoreses was carried out.


RESULTS
Positive skin tests to grass, ragweed, and freshly prepared fennel seed were found. Serum IgE antibodies to fennel were quite high. Immunoblotting studies showed reactions to two components in fennel extract as well as to components in mugwort, paprika, short ragweed and black pepper.


CONCLUSIONS
This case of occupational rhinitis and asthma in an atopic individual involves sensitivity to unique allergens in fennel, with molecular weights of 67 to 75 KD.
Schwartz
H J
HJ
Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA.
Jones
R T
RT
Rojas
A R
AR
Squillace
D L
DL
Yunginger
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D005309:Ferula / Q000276:immunology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012639:Seeds / Q000276:immunology
D004391:Dust