Housewives with raw potato‐induced bronchial asthma

Abstract

Allergy to white potato has rarely been described. We report two cases of atopic patients, housewives, in whom peeling raw potatoes precipitated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthmatic attacks, and, in one of them, contact urticaria. Type I hypersensitivity to raw potato antigens was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, specific IgE determination by RAST, basophil degranulation, histamine release test and an immediate bronchial provocation test response to raw potato extract. The controls did not react to any of these tests. Potato allergenic constituent is currently being investigated but, as far as we know, it is heat-labile and has an MW of more than 10 Kd.

IgE-Mediated Allergic Reactions to Potatoes

“…Quirce et al [11] assumed that potato allergens > 10 kD caused immediate reactions to raw potatoes in housewives. Castells et al [10] demonstrated spe cific IgE antibodies directed against several proteins of raw potato extract in the same range, as we did us ing western blotting.…”

“…Milk, egg, nuts, and wheat are the most com mon allergens [2][3][4][5][6][7], Although potatoes are a very im portant vegetable, especially in Europe and North America, and, therefore, exposure is high, potatoes are rarely known to cause food allergy [8][9][10][11], In the present study sera were investigated from patients who showed allergic reactions to potatoes. By RAST using potato allergen disks, in all sera IgE specificities could be found, expressed in percent bindings.…”

“…Castells et al [10] described an 11-year-old girl who developed anaphylactic symptoms to potatoes when she ate po tatoes for the first time at 5 months of age. Recently Quirce et al [11] described a housewife who devel oped bronchial asthma after peeling potatoes.…”

Diagnosis and natural course of allergy to cooked potatoes in children

“…White potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) is highly consumed in Europe, and in its cooked form it often is introduced in the child's diet around the age of 5–6 months (1, 2). Allergy to raw potato has mainly been described in adults, most frequently as a cause of oral allergy syndrome (3, 4), generally caused by heat‐labile allergens displaying immunoglobulin (Ig) E cross‐reactivity with tree pollen (5, 6). Allergy to cooked potato has been reported in children only (7–9), with both immediate and late severe reactions, and even with anaphylaxis (7, 8).…”

Occupational asthma due to the inhalation of cauliflower and cabbage vapors

“…Allergic reactions to vegetables occur usually after ingestion or skin contact, and less commonly through the inhalative route. Asthma as a result of inhalation of aerosols from vegetables, such as potato (1), carrot (2) and green bean (3) has been reported.…”