Detection of some safe plant-derived foods for LTP-allergic patients.
BACKGROUND
Lipid transfer protein (LTP) is a widely cross-reacting plant pan-allergen. Adverse reactions to Rosaceae, tree nuts, peanut, beer, maize, mustard, asparagus, grapes, mulberry, cabbage, dates, orange, fig, kiwi, lupine, fennel, celery, tomato, eggplant, lettuce, chestnut and pineapple have been recorded.


OBJECTIVE
To detect vegetable foods to be regarded as safe for LTP-allergic patients.


METHODS
Tolerance/intolerance to a large spectrum of vegetable foods other than Rosaceae, tree nuts and peanut was assessed by interview in 49 subjects monosensitized to LTP and in three distinct groups of controls monosensitized to Bet v 1 (n = 24) or Bet v 2 (n = 18), or sensitized to both LTP and birch pollen (n = 16), all with a history of vegetable food allergy. Patients and controls underwent skin prick test (SPT) with a large spectrum of vegetable foods. The absence of IgE reactivity to foods that were negative in both clinical history and SPT was confirmed by immunoblot analysis and their clinical tolerance was finally assessed by open oral challenge (50 g per food).


RESULTS
All patients reported tolerance and showed negative SPT to carrot, potato, banana and melon; these foods scored positive in SPT and elicited clinical symptoms in a significant proportion of patients from all three control groups. All patients tolerated these four foods on oral challenge. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the lack of IgE reactivity to these foods by LTP-allergic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Carrot, potato, banana and melon seem safe for LTP-allergic patients. This finding may be helpful for a better management of allergy to LTP.
Asero
Riccardo
R
Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno Dugnano, Italia. r.asero@libero.it
Mistrello
Gianni
G
Roncarolo
Daniela
D
Amato
Stefano
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000276:immunology; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D028521:Musa / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant