Λεξικό .. Apple oral allergy syndrome

Birch pollen immunotherapy has been advocated as a treatment for associated apple oral allergy syndrome (OAS), yet there have been no placebo-controlled studies incorporating prospective oral apple challeng tests. 24 birch-apple allergic british patients were randomized double blind to receive either subcutaneous immunotherapy  with birch pollen extracts or placebo injections. Oral  alergy to apple was not relieved by birch pollen immunotherapy despite a significant reduction in cutaneous response to birch pollen.

There was a strong placebo effect, which should not be underestimated in uncontrolled studies [1]. More than 100 apple varieties are consumed worldwide. However, the allergenic composition of most apple varieties has not been fully characterized. The antigenic profile of the 10 varieties showed differences using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A 9-kDa band, which could correspond to Mal d 3, was visualized in all the extracts. The Starking variety had the highest protein content.

Higher specific IgE values were also obtained for the Starking variety, and the lowest values were for Reineta Parda and Royal Gala. The largest wheals were obtained in all patients with the Starking variety, and the smallest with Reineta Parda. Fourteen patients (64%) recognized Mal d 3 in the Golden variety using immunoblots; 6 patients (27%), who also had specific IgE to Betula, recognized bands with higher molecular weights[2].

References

1. Trigg CJ et al: Can birch pollen immunotherapy relieve oral allergy to apple? The EAACI meeting Brussels, Belgium, Allergy, suppl.52:54:20, 1999

2. Carnés J, Ferrer A, Fernández-Caldas E. Allergenicity of 10 different apple varieties. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Apr;96(4):564-70.