Specific and total IgE in patients with recurrent, acute urticaria caused by Anisakis simplex

Abstract

Titres of parasite-specific IgE were investigated in 19 patients thought to have recurrent, acute urticaria caused by sensitization to Anisakis simplex (Dujardin, 1845), before and after they were placed on a fish-free diet. Patients with other allergic disease and those being treated with corticosteroids or antihistaminics were excluded. Skin-prick tests were carried out with A. simplex extract, and blue- and white-fish extracts. The CAP system (Pharmacia), a commercial test kit developed for the assay of food-specific IgE, was used to monitor serum concentrations of total IgE and antigen-specific IgE against Anisakis, Ascaris, Echinococcus, Toxocara, tuna, salmon, shrimp, mussel and cod. Before going on a fish-free diet, the 19 patients had CAP scores against A. simplex of 5 (three cases), 3 (seven) or 2 (nine). After a mean of 120 days on the diet, the scores against A. simplex were unchanged in 15 of the cases, reduced in three [from 5 to 4 (one case) or from 2 to 0 (two cases)] and increased in one (from 2 to 3). Most (16) of the patients no longer had any urticaria and the others reported significant reductions in the intensity and frequency of their symptoms.

Endosonographic Findings and the Natural Course of Chronic Gastric Anisakiasis: A Single-Center Experience

“…Second, we did not confirm the Anisakidae larvae histopathologically. Immunologic methods using specific serum IgE antibody to A. simplex are reported to be helpful in the diagnosis of anisakiasis, but this antibody was detected in 25% of healthy controls and lacked specificity because of its cross-reactivity with other parasite antigens [ 23 ]. Furthermore, it is not generally available; thus, we could not utilize it in the present study.…”

Expression and Characterization of α-Methylacyl CoA Racemase from Anisakis simplex Larvae

“…A. simplex can cause direct tissue damage following larval invasion in the gut wall, development of an eosinophilic granuloma, or perforation of the gut [1,2]. It has also been reported that an A. simplex larval infection can cause an allergic response due to anti- Anisakis IgE antibodies [3-5]. The allergic responses caused by anisakiasis include anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, rheumatic manifestations, and nephrotic syndrome [6-11].…”