Anaphylaxis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.
BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, no previously published reports have described food-induced anaphylaxis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
We undertook a study of four patients with thrombosis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome after each patient experienced anaphylaxis attributable to ingestion of vegetal foods.


METHODS
IgE antibody levels to various foods were determined in serum specimens from the study patients, and skin prick tests with the same allergens were conducted to determine their in vivo responses. Hematologic, cardiopulmonary, vascular, and rheumatologic studies were also performed. IgG anticardiolipin antibody levels were determined by ELISA.


RESULTS
All four patients fulfilled the criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome and had high levels of specific IgE antibodies for certain food allergens. By immunoblot analysis, the presence of serum IgE specific for a 45-kD protein band in an almond extract was detected in these four patients who experienced food-related anaphylaxis. No specific IgE was detected in sera from normal subjects. No IgE antibodies specific for the food panallergen lipid transfer proteins were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of severe food-precipitated anaphylaxis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome and the first description of a patient with allergy to blackberry. The possible involvement of food panallergens distinct from lipid transfer proteins is also discussed.
Armentia
A
A
Allergy Section, Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Valladolid, Spain. jmartinsantos@nexo.es
Barber
D
D
Lombardero
M
M
Martín Santos
J M
JM
Martin Gil
F J
FJ
Arranz Peña
M L
ML
Callejo
A
A
Salcedo
G
G
Sánchez-Monge
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies