Allergy to the coffee plant

Abstract

Occupational respiratory allergy to green coffee beans in coffee roastery workers is well established. I now report on a 50-year-old female atopic patient sensitized to the coffee plant used for indoor decoration. The symptoms were rhinitis and conjunctivitis on exposure to the plant. Investigation showed a positive skin prick test, RAST, and rhinoconjunctival provocation test to coffee leaf allergen extract. However, the commercially available RAST disk for green coffee beans seems to be appropriate for diagnosing allergy to the potted coffee plant.