Study of a case of hypersensitivity to lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 1031 - 1035
• Main Authors: VILA, L, SANCHEZ, G, SANZ, M. L, DIEGUEZ, I, MARTINEZ, A, PALACIOS, R, MARTINEZ, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford BSL Blackwell Science Ltd 01.08.1998; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Allergens - adverse effects; Allergens - immunology; Allergic diseases; Biological and medical sciences; crossreactivity; Digestive allergic diseases; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; food allergy; food hypersensitivity; Food Hypersensitivity - etiology; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Histamine Release; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunopathology; Lactuca - adverse effects; Lactuca - immunology; lettuce allergy; Medical sciences; occupational dermatitis; profilin; SDS-PAGE immunoblotting; Skin Tests; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Skin disease; Identification; Compositae; Occupational exposure; In vitro; In vivo; Lettuce; Contact dermatitis; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Cross reaction; Spermatophyta; Lactuca sativa; Food; Allergen
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00338.x

Background Allergic reactions to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) are not too frequent and few cases of systemic adverse reactions after its ingestion have been described. Objective We report a case of clinical sensitization to lettuce on a patient who presented mucocutaneous manifestations after its ingestion, with positive skin tests, histamine release test and serum specific‐IgE to lettuce. The allergens responsible for this sensitization were also characterized by means of SDS‐PAGE immunoblotting. Materials and methods We performed skin tests, histamine release test, serum specific IgE determination and CAP inhibition with lettuce and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) extracts. An aqueous and enriched lettuce (from loose leaf type) extract was subjected to SDS‐PAGE immunoblotting for determination of its IgE‐binding components. Results and Conclusions CAP inhibition showed antigenic community between lettuce and mugwort. Four protein bands from the lettuce extracts with molecular weights of 50, 43, 39 and 16 kDa exhibited IgE‐binding properties.