Oral allergy syndrome in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis

Abstract

Patients with pollinosis sometimes complain of oral symptoms (itching and tingling with or without edema of the lips, mouth and tongue) after eating fresh fruits and vegetables. This condition has been termed Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). Twenty-three patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and OAS for fresh fruits and vegetables were included in this study. Their mean age was 31.3 years (range = 5 to 62). The fruits that caused OAS in these patients included melon, apple, peach, and kiwi fruit. Most patients with OAS exhibited hypersensitivity to more than two foods. Specific IgE antibodies to inhaled allergens of mite, Japanese cedar pollen, birch pollen, melon, apple, peach, and kiwi were evaluated using the Pharmacia CAP system. Eleven of the 16 subjects with specific IgE antibodies for birch pollen, did not suffer symptoms during the birch and alder pollen season. In subjects with specific IgE antibodies for fruits, 13 out of 20 patients showed specific IgE antibodies for apple, and 8 out of 9 patients with OAS for apples were also positive for specific IgE antibodies for apples. On the other hand, 17 patients had no specific IgE antibodies for melon, and only two patients and one patient showed specific IgE antibodies for kiwi fruit and peach, respectively. These results suggest that the evaluation of specific IgE antibodies to birch pollen and apple may be useful for diagnosing OAS in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.