Recurrent acute pancreatitis in a patient with peanut allergy

Abstract

Peanut allergy is a common food allergy. Accidental peanut exposure can induce anaphylactic symptoms in allergic individuals. In rare cases, pancreatitis can be induced by food allergies. This report describes a 12-year-old girl with recurrent acute pancreatitis (AP) following a peanut allergy induced 8 years after the first episode. The patient experienced the first episode of AP at 4 years old when she accidentally consumed peanut powder ice cream. AP was recurrently induced 8 years later by an oral food challenge test with a small amount of peanuts, despite decreased specific IgE for peanuts and Arah2. This report is the first to demonstrate that AP, as a peanut-induced symptom, is difficult to tolerate over a long period in a patient with peanut allergy. The possibility of AP induction after accidental ingestion, oral food challenge, or oral immunotherapy for peanuts should be considered in patients with peanut allergy.