title: Sensitization to other foods in subjects with reported allergy to grapes.
abstract: The grape is widely produced and consumed in the Mediterranean area. The object of this prospective study was to present in detail the clinical features of patients with documented immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to grapes or its products as well as the existing cosensitizations in other food allergens among this population. Sixty-one patients (27 male patients and 34 female patients), aged 14-52 years (mean, 28.8 years) with a documented history of IgE-mediated reactions to grapes or its products (wine, juice, and wine vinegar) were included in this study. In each patient, full allergological data, clinical examination, and specific in vivo (skin-prick tests and prick-to-prick) and in vitro (grape-specific IgE) evaluations were recorded. The diagnostic procedure was extended in other food allergens and molds for exclusion of fruit surface contamination. Thirty-seven of 61 (60.7%) patients had a positive personal history and 24/61 (39.3%) patients had a family history of atopy. Patients reported 3.1 episodes/patient (range, 1-15 episodes) after consumption of grapes or its product. Forty-seven of 61 (77%) patients had presented oral allergy syndrome after eating grapes before the first reported reaction. The mean time for the onset of symptoms was 42 minutes (4-160 minutes). Forty-four of 61 (72.1%) patients reported more than one reaction. The observed prevalence of symptomatology according to the system involved was determined: skin, 57/61(93.4%) patients; respiratory, 46/61(75.4%) patients; cardiovascular, 27/61 (44.3%) patients; and gastrointestinal, 24/61(39.3%) patients. The main cosensitizations were identified (skin-prick tests): apples, 81.9%; peaches, 70.5%; cherries, 47.5%; strawberries, 32.8%; peanuts, 49.2%; walnuts, 42.6%; hazelnuts, 31.1%; almonds, 26.2%; and pistachios, 29.5%. The grape and its products may be the offending agent of IgE-mediated reactions in sensitized individuals. The high prevalence of concomitant reactivity to other fruits elicits the interest of clinical relevance of these findings among the grape-allergic population.
authors.affiliation: Allergology Unit, University Hospital Attiko, Athens, Greece. mak-mik@hol.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kalogeromitros
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Stamatios G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gregoriou
authors.forename: Alexandros C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Katoulis
authors.forename: Nikolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Straurianeas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens