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Anaphylaxis induced by pine nuts in two young girls
M Dolores Ibáñez1, Manuel Lombardero, Mercedes Martinez San Ireneo
1Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain. dibanezs@medynet.com
Summary
Pine nut allergy is rare, but can cause severe anaphylaxis even with small amounts. A specific 17-kDa protein in pine nuts is identified as a potential major allergen.
Area of Science:
- Allergen research
- Immunology
- Food allergy
Background:
- Pine nuts, seeds of Pinus pinea, are infrequently associated with allergic reactions.
- Allergy to pine nuts is underreported, necessitating further investigation into its clinical manifestations and immunological basis.
Observation:
- Two young female patients experienced anaphylaxis after consuming minimal quantities of pine nuts.
- Diagnostic tests, including skin prick tests and radioallergosorbent tests (RAST), confirmed specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to pine nut.
Findings:
- Patients demonstrated IgE against a distinct protein band of approximately 17 kDa in pine nut extract.
- This 17-kDa protein is proposed as the primary allergen responsible for pine nut allergy.
- Monosensitization to pine nut was observed, with no cross-reactivity to other nuts or pine pollen.
Implications:
- The identified 17-kDa protein may be crucial for diagnosing pine nut allergy.
- Understanding this specific allergen can aid in developing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for pine nut allergy.
- This study highlights the potential for severe allergic reactions to pine nuts, emphasizing the need for clinical awareness.