[Four cases of pollen-food allergy syndrome suspected the cross reactivity including latex]

Abstract

Background: Generally it is recognized that the occurrence of fruit allergy is attributed not to the sensitization of itself but to the cross reactivity with pollens or latex. But the relationship as to the sensitization between pollen and latex is obscure. So we aimed to investigate the relation of sensitization among pollens, fruits and latex.

Methods: We tried to examine latex-specific IgE titer and practice skin prick test of latex for the patients of pollen-food allergy syndrome.

Results: It was confirmed that some patients of pollen-food allergy syndrome showed positive reactions against both specific IgE and skin prick test of latex, though they could tolerate latex products in their daily lives. We present here four patients of such clinical courses concretely.

Conclusion: The patients of pollen-food allergy syndrome should be practiced examination about latex allergy, even if they can use latex products without any symptoms. And more if positive results are obtained, additional examination such as immunoblot and IgE RAST inhibition test are recommended to practice in order to clarify the unresolved problems, such as 1) which factor is the major allergen to cause cross-reactivity among these three factors? 2) what occurs if patients of same clinical courses with our cases continue to use latex products? Further investigation will be indispensable to resolve these problems in the future.