Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
07:05
Ultrasound-guided Botulinum Toxin-A Injections: A Method of Treating Sialorrhea
Published on: November 9, 2016
Aniseed-induced nocturnal tongue angioedema
V Gázquez García1, P Gaig Jané, B Bartolomé Zavala
1Allergy Unit, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain. vangazquez@comt.es
Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology
|December 20, 2007
Summary
This study details a rare case of tongue angioedema caused by aniseed allergy. Allergy testing confirmed hypersensitivity to aniseed, highlighting a potential trigger for adverse reactions to this common spice.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Food Science
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Aniseed is a spice commonly used in food and beverages.
- The celery-mugwort-spices syndrome describes cross-reactivity among certain foods and pollens.
- Type I hypersensitivity reactions can manifest in various ways.
Observation:
- A patient presented with tongue angioedema after consuming aniseed liqueur.
- Skin prick tests were positive exclusively for aniseed.
- Serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels indicated sensitivity to aniseed, tare, and cumin.
Findings:
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblotting identified IgE-binding proteins in aniseed extract.
- A specific IgE-binding band of 12.9-13.7 kd was observed in aniseed extract, potentially linked to the allergic reaction.
- This is the first reported case of type I hypersensitivity to aniseed liqueur.
Implications:
- Aniseed can be an allergen, triggering immediate hypersensitivity reactions like angioedema.
- Understanding specific protein allergens in aniseed is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- Clinicians should consider aniseed as a potential allergen in patients with unexplained hypersensitivity reactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
01:27Esophageal Achalasia
Esophageal achalasia is a chronic neurogenic disorder characterized by impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and absent or ineffective peristalsis in the distal esophagus. This leads to a functional obstruction without a physical blockage, despite significant disruption of esophageal motility.EtiologyAchalasia is caused by degeneration of the myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus, specifically the loss of inhibitory ganglion cells that produce vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)...
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management
This lesson will focus on the different treatment options for managing tonsillitis, which typically depend on the cause and severity.
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Thoracic, aortic arch and abdominal aneurysms are significant vascular conditions that can present with various clinical manifestations and lead to serious complications. Understanding these manifestations and the appropriate diagnostic studies is essential for effective management and treatment.Thoracic Aortic AneurysmsThoracic aortic aneurysms often remain asymptomatic until they reach a size that impinges on adjacent structures. They typically cause deep, diffuse chest pain that radiates to...
01:30Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. When IgE binds to allergens, it triggers the release of mediators– histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins from mast cells and basophils. These mediators cause vasodilation, edema, and inflammation, leading to various symptoms.The primary allergens causing anaphylaxis include food items (e.g., peanuts, shellfish), drugs (e.g., penicillin, asparaginase, corticotropin, heparin),...
01:14Conditioned Taste Aversion
Conditioned taste aversion, also known as sauce béarnaise syndrome, is a phenomenon in which an individual develops an aversion to a certain food taste following a negative experience, typically illness. This form of aversion is a type of classical conditioning in which the taste of the food (conditioned stimulus, CS) is associated with the experience of illness (unconditioned stimulus, UCS).
A notable characteristic of conditioned taste aversion is that it often requires only a single exposure...
A notable characteristic of conditioned taste aversion is that it often requires only a single exposure...