Anaphylactic Reaction To Soy Drink In Two Patients With Birch Pollen Allergy

Abstract

RATIONALE: Cross-reactivity of soy protein with birch pollen allergens was identified as the cause for their severe reactions. Kleine-Tebbe (2002) investigated IgE-mediated reactions to a soy-containing food product in patients allergic to birch pollen. The trial concluded that immediate-type symptoms in patients with birch pollen allergy after ingestion of soy protein-containing food items can result from cross-reactivity of Bet v 1-specific IgE to proteins, particularly the PR-10 soy protein SAM22.METHODS: The first patient was a 54-year old female with a previous history of O.A.S and allergy for birch pollen. Within 5 minutes after she drink soy milk, she get facial edema (periorbital and conjuncitival) and a feeling of throat closure. The second patient was a 62-year old female with allergy for grass-, and birch -pollen. After drinking soy milk, she immediately developed itching, rhinitis, thoracic thigtness, throat closure, dypsnoe, dysphagia, periorbital edema and urticaria. Prompt recovery followed epineprine, steroids and antihistamine administration.RESULTS: The results for specific IgE were negative for soy milk, and high for hazel-, alder-, birch-pollen and positive for Gly m 4. for both of them. We concluded that both patients had soy allergy based on cross-reactivity of Bet v 1-specific IgE.CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the strong evidence that a birch pollen-related protein from soy, might cause adverse reactions in patients with high IgE titers to Bet v 1. Because of the rising popularity of soy products and the large number of birch pollen allergic patients, allergologists will be increasingly confronted with these reactions in future Patients with birch pollen allergy should be careful with the intake of soy protein. RATIONALE: Cross-reactivity of soy protein with birch pollen allergens was identified as the cause for their severe reactions. Kleine-Tebbe (2002) investigated IgE-mediated reactions to a soy-containing food product in patients allergic to birch pollen. The trial concluded that immediate-type symptoms in patients with birch pollen allergy after ingestion of soy protein-containing food items can result from cross-reactivity of Bet v 1-specific IgE to proteins, particularly the PR-10 soy protein SAM22. METHODS: The first patient was a 54-year old female with a previous history of O.A.S and allergy for birch pollen. Within 5 minutes after she drink soy milk, she get facial edema (periorbital and conjuncitival) and a feeling of throat closure. The second patient was a 62-year old female with allergy for grass-, and birch -pollen. After drinking soy milk, she immediately developed itching, rhinitis, thoracic thigtness, throat closure, dypsnoe, dysphagia, periorbital edema and urticaria. Prompt recovery followed epineprine, steroids and antihistamine administration. RESULTS: The results for specific IgE were negative for soy milk, and high for hazel-, alder-, birch-pollen and positive for Gly m 4. for both of them. We concluded that both patients had soy allergy based on cross-reactivity of Bet v 1-specific IgE. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the strong evidence that a birch pollen-related protein from soy, might cause adverse reactions in patients with high IgE titers to Bet v 1. Because of the rising popularity of soy products and the large number of birch pollen allergic patients, allergologists will be increasingly confronted with these reactions in future Patients with birch pollen allergy should be careful with the intake of soy protein.