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Original Article
 

Hypersensitivity to Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Peach-Allergic Patients: rPru p 3 and rPru p 1 Are Predictive of Symptom Severity
 

Mascheri A1, Farioli L2, Pravettoni V3, Piantanida M3, Stafylaraki C1, Scibilia J1, Mirone C1, Preziosi D1, Nichelatti M4, Pastorello EA5

1Allergology and Immunology Unit, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
3Clinical Allergy and Immunology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
4Service of Biostatistics, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
5Allergology and Immunology Unit, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital and Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health “Università degli Studi di Milano”, Milan, Italy

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2015; Vol. 25(3): 183-189
 

 Abstract


Background: The role of allergens in the severity of tomato allergy symptoms has not yet been studied.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between severe allergic reactions to peach and tomato and between tomato allergy symptoms and the pattern of IgE positivity for rPru p 1, rPru p 3, rPru p 4, rBet v 1, rBet v 2, rBet v 4, rPhl p 1, and rPhl p 12 in order to identify the role of recombinant allergens in the severity of reactions to tomato.

Methods: We studied peach-allergic patients with clinical reactions to tomato by performing an open food challenge, skin prick test, and determination of serum specific IgE to tomato and to recombinant peach, birch, and grass allergens. Statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the severity of tomato symptoms and IgE positivity to the different allergens and to peach-induced symptoms.

Results: We found a significant association between severe reactions to tomato and severe reactions to peach (P=.017) and levels of IgE to rPru p 3 (P=.029) and between mild tomato allergy symptoms and levels of IgE to rPru p 1 (P=.047), anti-rBet v 1 (P=.0414), anti-rBet v 2 (P=.0457), and Phleum pratense (P=.0022).

Conclusion: We observed a significant relationship between peach and symptoms of tomato allergy. IgE positivity for rPru p 3 seems to be a surrogate biochemical marker for severe tomato allergy, whereas the presence of anti-rPru p 1 IgE may be an indicator of mild tomato allergy.

Key words: Lipid transfer protein. LTP. Peach allergy. Pru p 3. Pru p 1.