Study of a case of hypersensitivity to lettuce (Lactuca sativa).
BACKGROUND
Allergic reactions to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) are not too frequent and few cases of systemic adverse reactions after its ingestion have been described.


OBJECTIVE
We report a case of clinical sensitization to lettuce on a patient who presented mucocutaneous manifestations after its ingestion, with positive skin tests, histamine release test and serum specific-IgE to lettuce. The allergens responsible for this sensitization were also characterized by means of SDS-PAGE immunoblotting.


METHODS
We performed skin tests, histamine release test, serum specific IgE determination and CAP inhibition with lettuce and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) extracts. An aqueous and enriched lettuce (from loose leaf type) extract was subjected to SDS-PAGE immunoblotting for determination of its IgE-binding components.


CONCLUSIONS
CAP inhibition showed antigenic community between lettuce and mugwort. Four protein bands from the lettuce extracts with molecular weights of 50, 43, 39 and 16 kDa exhibited IgE-binding properties.
Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Universitary Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain.
L
L
Vila
G
G
Sánchez
M L
ML
Sanz
I
I
Diéguez
A
A
Martínez
R
R
Palacios
J
J
Martínez
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D018545:Lactuca / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E