Anaphylaxis to Linum.
BACKGROUND
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) seeds are increasingly used in bread and as laxatives. Hypersensitivity to linseeds has been infrequently described, and we report a case of anaphylaxis induced by linseed ingestion in a 39-year-old woman.


RESULTS
The clinical course, as well as positive skin prick tests and histamine release tests performed with linseed extracts, suggested a type I hypersensitivity as the underlying cause for the patient's multisystemic involvement. The presence of linum-specific IgE in her serum was confirmed by immunoCAP assay.


CONCLUSIONS
Linum seeds might be a source of allergic sensitization that should be taken into account due to its widespread distribution at health food stores.
León
F
F
Department of Immunology, Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
Rodríguez
M
M
Cuevas
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests
D002400:Cathartics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E