Grass-Allergic Children Frequently Show Asymptomatic Low-Level IgE Co-Sensitization and Cross-Reactivity to Wheat.

Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to wheat is more common than a doctor's confirmed wheat allergy and is also frequently observed in grass pollen-allergic patients (pollinosis patients). Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the level and feature of serological IgE cross-reactivity between grass pollen and wheat in a cohort of pollinosis subjects with no diagnosis of wheat allergy. Seventy-two children, aged 5-17 years, with a doctor's diagnosis of pollinosis, IgE towards grass pollen, and currently eating wheat were recruited. Serum samples were analyzed for IgE against wheat, timothy grass/wheat-specific allergen components, Pru p 3, and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) and specific IgE-binding inhibition experiments were performed. Sixty percent of the grass pollen subjects were sensitized to wheat with a median of 0.5 kUA/L. Wheat-sensitized subjects were more often sensitized to the two allergens, Phl p 12 and CCD, known to be cross-reactive between grass and wheat. Sensitizations to seven wheat-specific allergens derived from the gluten fraction were, with the exception of one individual, only found in wheat-sensitized subjects. These subjects also more often reported current and past history of allergy to staple foods (milk, egg, wheat, soy, and fish). Wheat sensitization caused by cross-reactivity but also by sensitization to wheat-specific allergens was common in the grass-allergic children and also associated with allergy to staple foods other than wheat. The results indicate the presence of a subgroup of pollinosis patients with simultaneous sensitization to wheat and food allergy not only caused by cross-reactions. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Citation

Nora Nilsson, Caroline Nilsson, Helena Ekoff, Sandra Wieser-Pahr, Magnus P Borres, Rudolf Valenta, Gunilla Hedlin, Sigrid Sjölander. Grass-Allergic Children Frequently Show Asymptomatic Low-Level IgE Co-Sensitization and Cross-Reactivity to Wheat. International archives of allergy and immunology. 2018;177(2):135-144

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PMID: 29894999

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