title: A 17-kDa allergen detected in pine nuts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few cases of allergy to pine nuts have been described. We report a case of anaphylactic reaction to pine nuts. The patient needed to be treated in the emergency room due to a systemic reaction immediately after eating pine nuts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was studied by prick tests and prick by prick tests. Specific IgE was measured by CAP and by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting by a diffusion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient showed positive prick by prick tests to pine nuts (12 mm of maximum wheal diameter). Specific IgE was positive (0.79 kU/l). The patient's serum recognized several proteins by immunoblot. However, a 17-kDa allergen band was detected with high intensity. This protein was found to be sensitive to reducing agents, losing its IgE-binding properties after reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient presented an IgE-mediated reaction and detected a 17-kDa protein from pine nuts not previously described.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Menaya
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonzalo-Garijo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moneo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-González
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009754:Nuts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E