Role of tropomyosin as a cross-reacting allergen in sensitization to cockroach in patients from Martinique (French Caribbean island) with a respiratory allergy to mite and a food allergy to crab and shrimp.
BACKGROUND
Tropomyosin has been described as cross-reacting allergen between mite, cockroach and shrimp.


METHODS
In 13 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis sensitized to mite and/or German cockroach and presenting urticaria, oral allergy syndrome or angio-edema upon eating shrimp and/or crab, we measured specific IgE to mite, cockroach, crab and shrimp tropomyosin.


RESULTS
Ten patients had specific IgE to tropomyosin from mite, 8 from shrimp, 6 from crab and 5 from cockroach. AST inhibition tests indicated that mite allergen is a primary sensitizer and is cross-reacting with shrimp, crab and cockroach allergens.


CONCLUSIONS
Tropomyosin could be the cross-reacting allergen relevant for clinical symptoms to mite, cockroach, shrimp and crab.
Purohit
A
A
Division of Asthma and Allergy, Department of Chest Diseases, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Shao
J
J
Degreef
J M
JM
van Leeuwen
A
A
van Ree
R
R
Pauli
G
G
de Blay
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008395:Martinique; D008875:Middle Aged; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000276:immunology*
D014335:Tropomyosin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E