Ficus-benjamina-Allergie ohne Kreuzreaktivität zu Latex

Abstract

Ficus benjamina is a plant very often used for indoor decorations that can generate allergies, e.g. rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria and Quinke's edema as well as anaphylactic reactions. We report the case of a patient withhypersensitivity to Ficus benjamina without cross-reactivity to Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) or several fruits, like mango, banana and spinach, but with cross-reactivity to fig. The hypersensitivity to Ficus benjamina was investigated by means of the prick test, the determination of specific IgE antibodies, the cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) and Westemblots. A self-produced Ficus benjamina extract, a Ficus benjamina extract from Allergopharma, extract of Hevea brasiliensis and extracts of several fruits were used in the prick tests as well as in the CAP and CAST experiments. CAP inhibition assays were carried out to study a suspected cross-reactivity of Ficus benjamina to NRL and several fruits, respectively. The hypersensitivity to Ficus benjamina was clearly demonstrated. Inhibition assay showed the inhibition of the specific IgE antibody up to 95%, and 82% by the self-produced Ficus benjamina extract and the commercial Ficus benjamina, respectively. Neither sensitization nor cross-reactivity to Hevea brasiliensis and several fruit proteins could be found, apart from cross-reactivity to fig. In our patient, an isolated type I hypersensitivity to Ficus benjamina with cross-reactivity to fig could be found, but without cross-reactivity to NRL. The Ficus benjamina protein seems to become an important indoor allergen with increasing significance.