Peels of Rosaceae fruits have a higher allergenicity than pulps.
BACKGROUND
It is not uncommon that patients allergic to fruits such as apple, pear, and peach, refer adverse reactions after the ingestion of the whole fruit, but subsequently tolerate the pulp.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare the allergenicity of peels and pulps of apple, peach, and pear in 33 patients allergic to these fruits.


METHODS
Clinical reactivity to the ingestion of whole fruit (peel + pulp) and pulp was established by medical history. Peels and pulps were tested separately in skin prick tests (SPTs), histamine release tests (HRTs) and RASTs. Cross-allergenicity between peel and pulp of apple and peach was studied by RAST inhibition.


RESULTS
Adverse reactions appeared more frequently and were more severe when the whole fruit was eaten. More than 40% of patients allergic to apple and pear tolerated the ingestion of the pulp of these fruits, and reactions were only elicited by the intake of the whole fruit. Peels induced higher SPTs, HRTs and RASTs than pulps. An important cross-allergenicity was found between the peel and pulp of apple and peach, although the amount of the shared allergenic epitopes seemed to be higher in peels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that peels of Rosaceae fruits such as apple, peach, and pear, have a higher allergenicity than pulps, which is clinically relevant. This aspect should be considered in the evaluation of patients allergic to Rosaceae fruits, and in the production of diagnostic materials.
Fernández-Rivas
M
M
Allergy Unit, Hospital Ntra. Sra. de Sonsoles, Avila.
Cuevas
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D019685:Rosales / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E