title: Sensitization to Anisakis simplex: an unusual presentation.
abstract: It has recently been published patients suffering from urticaria or anaphylaxia induced by nematodes usually parasitizing fishs or cephalopode, in whom, Anisakis simplex (AK) sensitization prevalence was detected up to 37%. We tried out a prospective study to evaluate the presence of AK specific-IgE in an asthmatic population, comparing to other group of patients with urticaria. Complaints related to food ingestion were recorded in both, and dietetic measures were advised. Thirteen patients (13/66; 20%) showed AK specific IgE. Nine of them were asthmatics (p < 0.01), and only 4 suffered from urticaria. Four patients, three of them asthmatics, could link symptoms after fishs, cephalopode or, surprisingly, seafood intake, including epigastralgia, rhinorrhea, conjunctivitis, hives, and dyspnea. Atopia was not a consistent status, only five AK sensitized patients also did to common inhalants (all skin prick-test positive to house dust mites). Asthmatic AK-sensitized patients were older than non AK-sensitized asthmatics (46.23 vs 30.1; p < 0.05). The way of sensitization could be inhalative or through digestive mucosa parasitization by live larvae. Possibility that an AK allergen can play a role in adult asthma, should be considered specially in countries with high fish or seafood diet content.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alergología, Hospital de León, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Estrada Rodríguez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gozalo Reques
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000799:Angioedema / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D017163:Anisakis / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens