Aniseed-induced nocturnal tongue angioedema.
Aniseed is a spice native to the eastern Mediterranean region. Cases of simultaneous hypersensitivity to celery, mugwort pollen, and spices of the Umbelliferae family have been described as the celery-mugwort-spices syndrome. We report a case of aniseed-induced tongue angioedema. Skin prick tests to foods proved positive only to aniseed. Serum-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E determination by enzyme allergosorbent test was 0.4 kU/L to aniseed extract and 0.6 kU/L to tare and cumin seeds. The molecular mass of the IgE-binding proteins studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblotting revealed a broad IgE-binding band of 12.9-13.7 kd in aniseed and tare extract assays and a broad band of 15-17.5 kd in cumin extract. This is the first case of type I hypersensitivity due to aniseed liqueur ingestion reported. SDS-PAGE immunoblotting study showed a broad specific IgE-binding band of 12.9-13.7 kd when aniseed extract was incubated with the patient's serum; this band might correspond to the protein responsible for the described symptoms.
Gázquez García
V
V
Allergy Unit, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain. vangazquez@comt.es
Gaig Jané
P
P
Bartolomé Zavala
B
B
D000799:Angioedema / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028042:Pimpinella / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012639:Seeds; D012882:Skin Tests; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
D007073:Immunoglobulin E