title: Lipid Transfer Protein Syndrome in a Non-Mediterranean Area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant food allergies associated with lipid transfer protein (LTP) have been widely described in the Mediterranean Basin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to describe the clinical profile and pollen sensitization of plant food- allergic patients sensitized to LTP in a non-Mediterranean area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with clear IgE-mediated symptoms associated with plant foods and a positive skin prick test (SPT) to Pru p 3 were included in a prospective study in the north of Spain. Reported symptoms were analyzed together with a battery of food and pollen SPTs and specific IgE components by ISAC microarray. Cross-inhibition studies were performed by ImmunoCAP with plane tree, mugwort and rPru p 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 72 patients included, the most frequent food allergy reported was to peaches (69%) followed by nuts (walnuts 55%, peanuts 54% and hazelnuts 43%). Most patients suffered from symptoms with multiple plant foods (a median of 6 foods per patient). Regarding the patients' pollen sensitization, 36% were sensitized to mugwort pollen (72% showing sIgE to Art v 3), 33% to grass pollen and 24% to plane tree pollen (94% with sIgE to Pla a 3). Inhibition studies showed that specific IgEs against mugwort and plane tree pollen are inhibited by Pru p 3 in a strong manner, whereas Pru p 3 was less inhibited by pollen extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTP syndrome occurs in a non-Mediterranean area and is related to multiple sensitizations to foods and pollens such as plane tree and mugwort. In these pollen sensitizations, Pru p 3 seems to be the primary sensitizer.
authors.affiliation: Allergology Unit, Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azofra
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berroa
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastaminza
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saiz
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vela
authors.forename: Blanca E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lizarza
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Echenagusia
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joral
authors.forename: María Ascensión
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aranzabal
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Quiñones
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jauregui
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Madera
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lizaso
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernad
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goikoetxea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C030363:lipid transfer protein; D007073:Immunoglobulin E