[Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis: case report and review of literature]

Abstract

Objective: Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a kind of food allergic disorder induced by physical exercise. Some FDEIA patients presented severe symptoms which were threat to life. The aim of the article was to improve the recognition of FDEIA among physicians.

Methods: The clinical data of a patient with FDEIA in our hospital was collected and analyzed, and current related literatures were reviewed.

Results: An eighteen year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of repeated episodes of urticaria, dyspnea and loss of consciousness for eight months. Each episode was induced by exercise after ingestion of wheat-made food. Symptoms were relieved rapidly by treatment with adrenaline, antihistamines, and/or dexamethasone. Assay of food-specific IgE in serum of the patient showed positive result for shrimp and crab. However, no anaphylaxis was related to the suspected food. Wheat-exercise challenge test showed positive result in the patient, which confirmed the diagnosis of FDEIA. Since then, the patient had avoided wheat food for more than one year, during which period no episode of anaphylaxis was observed, until one day the patient exercised after a diet of wheat food.

Conclusions: The incidence of FDEIA was rare. Wheat is the common causative food. Food-exercise challenge test is a reliable method for diagnosis of FDEIA. Avoidance of exercise for 4h after eating causative food might be helpful to prevent the occurrence of symptoms in many FDEIA cases. Dietary elimination of causative food ingredients was a reliable method for prophylaxis of FDEIA.