Tomato-induced occupational asthma in a greenhouse worker

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 122; no. 6; pp. 1229 - 1231
• Main Authors: Vandenplas, Olivier, Sohy, Carine, D'Alpaos, Vinciane, Nootens, Carine, Thimpont, Joël, Weigand, Daniela, Scheurer, Stephan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.12.2008; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - blood; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - etiology; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - immunology; Allergies; Allergy and Immunology; Antigens, Plant - adverse effects; Antigens, Plant - immunology; Asthma; Asthma - blood; Asthma - etiology; Asthma - immunology; Gardening; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Lycopersicon esculentum - adverse effects; Male; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Tomatoes
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.07.035
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825

To the Editor: Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum, botanical family of Solanaceae) are a well-documented source of IgE-mediated food allergy,1 but only 1 report has suggested the possibility of an occupational respiratory allergy to tomato allergens.2 Herein we report the clinical and immunologic findings in a tomato greenhouse worker who had occupational asthma and rhinitis. The subject's serum exhibited specific IgE antibodies against tomato (7.3 IU/mL) and other plants belonging to the Solanaceae family, including potato (3.1 IU/mL), sweet bell pepper (2.1 IU/mL), eggplant (2.4 IU/mL), and chili pepper (1.9 IU/mL), as well as against natural rubber latex (2.7 IU/mL), mugwort (1.5 IU/mL), timothy grass (3.1 IU/mL), birch (2.8 IU/mL), and recombinant Bet v 1 (1.6 U/mL; ImmunoCAP method; Phadia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden).