title: Sensitization to beer ingredients in Chinese individuals with beer allergy: a clinical study of 20 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rare case reports of allergic reactions to beer have been published, but the nature of the eliciting substances in beer ingredients is often unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to identify sensitization patterns against various beer ingredients in Chinese individuals with beer allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven Chinese individuals with a clear-cut history of beer allergy were prescreened to answer a specific questionnaire related to the history and symptoms of beer allergy. Twenty individuals underwent allergy diagnostics with different food allergens and extracts of beer ingredients using the skin prick test (SPT) and the open oral provocation test (OPT) with beer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients (75%) showed positive reactions to one or more beer ingredients. Of these, 9 individuals, reactive to sorghum and/or sorghum malt also showed positive reactions to other ingredients. Seventeen individuals showed variable symptoms after the OPT. Cutaneous erythema and urticaria were the most common symptoms and usually persisted for over 2 h. There were no significant differences in SPT reactivity to beer ingredients between male and female individuals. Single patients reacted to barley, hops or yeast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to sorghum and/or sorghum malt was the most common finding in Chinese individuals with beer allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wenchieh
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001515:Beer / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D045868:Sorghum / Q000276:immunology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D052179:Antigens, Plant