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The use of erythritol as a food sweetener has spread significantly from Japan throughout the world. We describe a case of severe anaphylaxis due to immediate-type allergy to erythritol that was diagnosed with in vitro basophil activation tests and in vivo skin tests., Competing Interests: Partially supported by the 10.13039/501100003196Italian Ministry of Health, Current Research IRCCS. Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Summary: The use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) desensitization for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is growing, but no data are available on desensitization protocol in patients with ASA sensitivity and CAD during pregnancy. This case report shows that ASA desensitization protocol during pregnancy could be safe and effective in a tertiary centre with a multidisciplinary team.

Summary: BLs allergy is considered a major health issue, as BLs are the most frequently involved in drug allergic reactions. Amoxicillin (AX) is the most frequently involved drug in sensitization among all BLs. AX is commercialized alone or combined to clavulanic acid (CLA) in order to increase the antibiotic spectrum. The growing prescriptions of AX-CLA formulations contributed to increase the role of CLA as an allergy inducer. At present, little is known about the clinical characteristics of hypersensitivity reactions to clavulanate. The aim of this study was to assess the difference in the prevalence of cutaneous vs systemic reactions in patients who had a documented history of allergic reactions to amoxicillin-clavulanate and tested positive for clavulanate or penicillin/amoxicillin. Our study suggests that patients who presented only muco-cutaneous reactions were more often sensitized to CLA rather than AX.

Summary: Background. International guidelines suggested skin tests with Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) and polysorbate 80 (PS-80), to investigate a possible hypersensitivity to these excipients either to identify subjects at risk of developing allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines, or in patients with suspected IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HR) to the Covid-19 vaccine. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEG and PS sensitization in patients with a clinical history of HR to drugs containing PEG/PS and in patients with a suspected Covid-19 vaccine immediate HR. Methods. This was a multicenter retrospective study conducted by allergists belonging to 20 Italian medical centers. Skin testing was performed in 531 patients with either a clinical history of suspected hypersensitivity reaction (HR) to drugs containing PEG and/or PS-80 (group 1:362 patient) or a suspected HR to Covid-19 vaccines (group 2: 169 patient), as suggested by the AAIITO/SIAAIC guidelines for the "management of patients at risk of allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines" [1]. Results. 10/362 (0.02%) had positive skin test to one or both excipients in group 1, 12/169 (7.1%) in group 2 (p less than 0.01). In group 2 HRs to Covid-19 vaccines were immediate in 10/12 of cases and anaphylaxis occurred in 4/12 of patients. Conclusions. The positivity of skin test with PEG and or PS before vaccination is extremely rare and mostly replaceable by an accurate clinical history. Sensitization to PEG and PS has to be investigated in patients with a previous immediate HR to a Covid-19 vaccine, in particular in patients with anaphylaxis.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered a systemic type 2 immune driven disease, and it is associated to many atopic comorbidities including asthma. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the respiratory outcomes in patients with persistent allergic asthma treated with dupilumab due to severe AD (sAD)., Methods: We enrolled eligible patients with sAD for dupilumab treatment from September 2018 to December 2020. We then selected the subgroup of patients sensitized to perennial allergens. Dupilumab's efficacy and safety on AD and comorbid asthma were assessed at baseline, one month, four months, and then every 4 months up to one year., Results: A total of 437 patients with sAD were enrolled for dupilumab treatment due to sAD, and 273 reached 48 weeks of therapy. Respiratory outcomes were evaluated in the 85 asthmatic patients with positivity only to perennial allergens. Our patients showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in asthma control (Asthma Control Test and Asthma Control Questionnaire) and airway obstruction parameters (FEV1), in addition to the expected AD-related skin outcomes. Specifically, a significant improvement was achieved at the fourth month of dupilumab therapy, and this trend was maintained up to twelve months, regardless of asthma severity., Conclusions: Our results showed the overall improvement of the clinical picture that dupilumab offers for patients with severe AD and persistent allergic asthma of any severity, highlighting the importance of a global multidisciplinary approach of type 2 driven disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Dubini, Benzecry, Rivolta, Sangalli, Marzano, Pravettoni, Tavecchio and Ferrucci.)

A graded challenge with adalimumab could be safe in case of a delayed allergic reaction to golimumab, after a detailed allergological evaluation and the exclusion of allergic sensitization using skin tests., Competing Interests: The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

After a suspected allergic reaction to first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, given the PEG skin tests negativity and tolerance in vivo to PEG containing drugs, five patients were vaccinated with the second dose of Pfizer-Biontech undergoing a fractional protocol, with antihistamine premedication, without presenting immediate or delayed reactions., Competing Interests: The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In this work, we investigate the correlation between ragweed pollen concentration and conjunctival, nasal, and asthma symptom severity in patients allergic to ragweed pollen using ambient pollen exposure in the Milan area during the 2014 ragweed season We calculate the pollen/symptom thresholds and we assess the effectiveness of ragweed allergen immunotherapy (AIT). A total of 66 participants allergic to ragweed (Amb a 1) were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: AIT treated (24) and no AIT treated (42). Pollen counts and daily symptom/medication patient diaries were kept. Autoregressive distributed lag models were used to develop predictive models of daily symptoms and evaluate the short-term effects of temporal variations in pollen concentration on the onset of symptoms. We found significant correlations between ragweed pollen load and the intensity of symptoms for all three symptom categories, both in no AIT treated (τ = 0.341, 0.352, and 0.721; and ρ = 0.48, 0.432, and 0.881; p-value < 0.001) and in AIT treated patients ([Formula: see text]= 0.46, 0.610, and 0.66; and ρ = 0.692, 0.805, and 0.824; p-value < 0.001). In both groups, we observed a positive correlation between the number of symptoms reported and drug use. Mean symptom levels were significantly higher in no AIT treated than in AIT treated patients (p-value < 0.001) for all symptom categories. Pollen concentration thresholds for the four symptom severity levels (low, medium-low, medium-high and high) were calculated. Ragweed pollen concentration is predictive of symptom severity in patients with a ragweed (Amb a 1) allergy. Patients treated with AIT had significantly reduced mean symptom levels compared to those without AIT., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Shellfish allergy is an important cause of food allergies worldwide. Both in vivo and in vitro diagnostics failure nowadays is caused by the poor quality of the extracts associated with the scarce availability of allergenic molecules in the market. It is known that not all patients with shellfish allergies experience adverse reactions to mollusks. It is still unclear how to detect and diagnose these patients correctly., Aim: To investigate the features of shrimp-allergic patients either reactive or tolerant to mollusks, with the currently available diagnostic methods., Methods: Nineteen centers, scattered throughout Italy, participated in the real-life study, enrolling patients allergic to shrimp with or without associated reactions to mollusks. Patients underwent skin tests using commercial extracts or fresh raw and cooked shrimp and mollusks, and IgE reactivity to currently available allergenic extracts and molecules was measured in vitro ., Results: Two hundred and forty-seven individuals with a self reported adverse reactions to shrimp participated in the study; of these 47.8% reported an adverse reaction to mollusks ingestion (cephalopod and/or bivalve). Neither of the tests used, in vivo nor in vitro , was able to detect all selected patients. Accordingly, a great heterogeneity of results was observed: in vivo and in vitro tests agreed in 52% and 62% of cases. Skin tests were able to identify the mollusk reactors (p < 0.001), also using fresh cooked or raw food (p < 0.001). The reactivity profile of mollusk reactors was dominated by Pen m 1, over Pen m 2 and Pen m 4 compared to tolerant subjects, but 33% of patients were not detected by any of the available molecules. Overall, a higher frequency of IgE rectivity to shrimp was recorded in northern Italy, while mollusk reactivity was more frequent in the center-south., Conclusion: The current diagnostic methods are inadequate to predict the cross-reactivity between crustaceans and mollusks. The detection of mollusks hypersensitivity should still rely on skin tests with fresh material. The exclusion of mollusks from shrimp allergic patients' diets should occur when clinical history, available diagnostic instruments, and/or tolerance tests support such a decision., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Diagnosis of fish may represent an important challenge for the allergists. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of an in vitro multiplex assay using a comprehensive panel of fish allergens and the cross-reactivity patterns between different molecular components., Methods: 56 subjects with fish allergy were enrolled. All patients underwent specific IgE measurement using the Allergy Explorer-Alex 2™ multiplex assay (Macroarray Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria) RESULTS: The single ß-parvalbumins Clu h 1, Cyp c 1, Gad m 1, Sal s 1, Sco s 1, Thu a 1 and Xyp g 1 scored positive in 75.0%, 67.8%, 62.5%, 80.3%,80.3%, 78.8% and 73,2% patients, respectively. 14.3% scored positive for the α-parvalbumin (Raj c-parvalbumin), and 16.1% for the aldolase + enolase (Gad m 2 + 3) components. 92.8% reacted to at least one ß-parvalbumin and 96.4% to at least one of the allergens tested. Overall sensitivity was higher than that obtained using commercial extracts of cod, salmon and tuna for skin prick test (75.8%) and IgE detection (92.3%)., Conclusions: The Alex 2 showed high diagnostic sensitivity and it might be used as an additional assay to investigate the cross-reactivity patterns between different molecular components, looking for potentially safe fish species., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Peanut allergy has not been well characterized in Italy., Objective: Our aim was to better define the clinical features of peanut allergy in Italy and to detect the peanut proteins involved in allergic reactions., Methods: A total of 22 centers participated in a prospective survey of peanut allergy over a 6-month period. Clinical histories were confirmed by in vivo and/or i n vitro diagnostic means in all cases. Potential risk factors for peanut allergy occurrence were considered. Levels of IgE to Arachis hypogea (Ara h) 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9 and profilin were measured., Results: A total of 395 patients (aged 2-80 years) were enrolled. Of the participants, 35% reported local reactions, 38.2% reported systemic reactions, and 26.6% experienced anaphylaxis. The sensitization profile was dominated by Ara h 9 (77% of patients were sensitized to it), whereas 35% were sensitized to pathogenesis-related protein 10 (PR-10) and 26% were sensitized to seed storage proteins (SSPs). Sensitization to 2S albumins (Ara h 2 and Ara h 6) or lipid transfer protein (LTP) was associated with the occurrence of more severe symptoms, whereas profilin and PR-10 sensitization were associated with milder symptoms. Cosensitization to profilin reduced the risk of severe reactions in both Ara h 2- and LTP-sensitized patients. SSP sensitization prevailed in younger patients whereas LTP prevailed in older patients ( P < . 01). SSP sensitization occurred mainly in northern Italy, whereas LTP sensitization prevailed in Italy's center and south. Atopic dermatitis, frequency of peanut ingestion, peanut consumption by other family members, or use of peanut butter did not seem to be risk factors for peanut allergy onset., Conclusions: In Italy, peanut allergy is rare and dominated by LTP in the country's center and south and by SSP in the north. These 2 sensitizations seem mutually exclusive. The picture differs from that in Anglo-Saxon countries., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Hymenoptera stings mostly cause acute urticaria but we describe a case of CU after wasp stings which remitted during venom immunotherapy. IgE-mechanisms have not been fully clarified in CU, except for isolated circumstances. In our case immunotherapy has played a positive role reducing immune cells reactivity and improving urticaria symptoms., Competing Interests: The authors certify that there is no conflict interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript., (© 2021 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Heat-and-pepsin-sensitive plant food allergens (PR-10 and profilin) sometimes cause systemic reaction., Objective: To detect the risk factors for systemic reactions induced by labile food allergens., Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was performed on patients with a documented history of systemic allergic reaction to labile plant food allergens and on age-matched controls with a history of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) induced by the same foods. Offending foods, their amount, and state (solid or liquid), and potential cofactors (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, protonic pump inhibitors, exercise, alcohol, and fasting) were considered., Results: We studied 89 patients and 81 controls. Sensitization to PR-10 or profilin, IgE to Bet v 1 and/or Bet v 2, and foods causing OAS were similar in the two groups. Twenty patients experienced >1 systemic allergic reaction. Tree nuts, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, and soymilk were the main offending foods. Seventeen (19%) patients were taking a PPI when the systemic reaction occurred (vs 5% in controls; P < .025). The ingestion of the offending food in liquid form (soymilk) was frequent among patients (15%) but unusual among controls (2%; P < .025). Soy milk-induced systemic reactions were independent of PPI treatment. Fasting and excess of allergen, but not NSAID and exercise, were other relevant cofactors for systemic reactions. Systemic reactions occurred without any identifiable cofactor in 39 (44%) cases., Conclusion: PR-10- and profilin-induced systemic reactions are facilitated by PPI, ingestion of large amounts of unprocessed foods, and fasting. Soybean beverages represent a risk for PR-10 hypersensitive patients and should be avoided., (© 2020 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

Background and objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and irreversible interstitial lung disease whose diagnosis often requires surgical lung biopsies (SLB) in cases without consistent radiological findings. We previously published that the expression of the chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 on T cells is significantly different in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of IPF patients from other interstitial lung diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate cut-off values of CXCR3 and CCR4 receptors expressed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood (PB) T cells useful for a differential diagnosis. Methods: Ninety-three patients were enrolled: 35 IPF, 36 interstitial lung diseases (nIPF) and 22 sarcoidosis. CXCR3 and CCR4 were evaluated on BAL and PB T lymphocytes with flow cytometry. Results: Among PB and BAL variables considered, the values of the ratio of BAL and PB CXCR3 on CD4 cells were clustered in the most informative way to obtain a classification rule for the diagnosis of patients without steroid therapy (n = 66/93). Patients with a CXCR3 ratio BAL/PB on CD4 T cells lower or equal than 1.43 were assigned to the IPF group with sensitivity = 0.87 and specificity = 0.90. All the other variables considered showed lower sensitivity and specificity in discriminating IPF patients. Conclusions: The evaluation of chemokine receptors on BAL and PB T lymphocytes could aid to discriminate IPF in subjects without steroid therapy, particularly in those patients with a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) non typical for Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP). (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 35-43) ., (Copyright: © 2018.)

Background: Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is one of the most serious side effects of the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy, regimen, especially among elderly patients. In the CEOP regimen, epirubicin was substituted for doxorubicin to reduce cardiotoxicity., Methods: Between March 1984 and September 1998, 186 previously untreated patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to the Working Formulation were treated with CEOP (cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m(2), epirubicin, 75 mg/m(2), vincristine, 1.4 mg/m(2); and prednisone, 60 mg per day orally on Days 1-5). Of 186 patients, 85 (45.7%) had Stage IV disease, and 60 (32.3%) had an International Prognostic Index score > 2. Comorbidity was present in 36 patients (19.3%)., Results: Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 119 patients (64.3%), and partial remission was achieved in 30 patients (16.2%). Among the patients who achieved a CR, 95 (79.8%) were still disease free at a median follow-up time of 86.9 months (range, 14-200 months). The remaining 24 patients experienced disease recurrence, at a median follow-up time of 19 months (range, 3-101 months). The relative dose intensities were 0.69, 0.89, and 0.80 for vincristine, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, respectively. Two patients died of toxicity due to infection. Two patients, 59 and 73 years old, respectively, experienced arrhythmia. Another patient, age 64 years, who had a myocardial infarction 10 years earlier, had angina. One patient with hypertension experienced cardiac failure. No patients died of cardiac toxicity., Conclusion: Long-term follow-up confirmed that CEOP is an effective and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimen for intermediate- and high-grade lymphoma. The results were promising, especially among elderly patients., (Copyright 2003 American Cancer Society.)

Background: The observation of mugwort-specific IgE antibodies in patients with peach allergy suggests that mugwort sensitization might play a role in sensitization to peach., Objective: We sought to study the clinical manifestations of mugwort hypersensitivity in patients with peach allergy, identify the common allergens, and evaluate their IgE crossreactivity., Methods: Patients with oral allergy syndrome for peach and specific IgE antibodies to mugwort were investigated for respiratory symptoms during the mugwort season. Peach and mugwort allergens were identified by means of SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblotting. Immunoblotting inhibition experiments were done to study cross-reactivity between peach and mugwort and other pollens., Results: Seventeen patients were studied, 10 with no seasonal respiratory symptoms and 7 with clear late summer respiratory symptoms. In IgE immunoblotting the 10 asymptomatic patients reacted only to a 9-kd allergen of both mugwort and peach, whereas the 7 patients with pollinosis reacted to other allergens. Ten patients with mugwort allergy, no history of allergy to peach, and negative results for peach-specific IgE antibodies were also studied. The mugwort 9-kd protein was identified as a lipid transfer protein (LTP) homologous to peach LTP. Immunoblotting inhibition showed that IgE binding to the peach 9-kd band was totally inhibited by 4 microg of peach LTP but only by 400 microg of mugwort LTP, whereas 4 microg of both mugwort and peach LTP totally inhibited the mugwort immunoblotting. The results were similar with other pollens., Conclusions: Patients sensitized only to the 9-kd LTP of mugwort do not present hay fever symptoms, and this sensitization is a consequence of the peach sensitization.

Objective: To evaluate incidence and causes of anaphylactic reactions in the emergency room (E.R.) of a general hospital in Milan during a 2-year period., Methods: We retrospectively studied the computerized records of patients discharged from an E.R. with a diagnosis of anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis was established on the presence of at least two cutaneous, respiratory, gastrointestinal or cardiovascular system symptoms., Results: During 1997 and 1998, out of 38 685 patients referred to the E.R., 13 had severe anaphylaxis with loss of consciousness (LOC) and 127 had anaphylactic symptoms, without LOC. Of the 13 patients with LOC, a possible cause was identified in 12 (five foods, six drugs, one hair dye). In the other 127 patients anaphylaxis was related to foods in 49 cases (38.5%), drugs in 44 (34.6%), unknown causes in 29 (22.8%), hymenoptera stings in two (1.5%), and other causes in three (2.3%)., Conclusion: The incidence of anaphylactic reactions was 0.4% and mainly affected females and atopic subjects. Foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, appeared to be the most important cause; other important causes were non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and beta-lactam antibiotics.

Background: Allergic reactions induced by ingestion of foods containing sesame seeds are a well recognized cause of severe food-induced anaphylaxis., Objective: This study aimed to identify and characterize the clinically most important major allergen of sesame seeds., Methods: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and IgE immunoblotting were performed on sera of 10 patients selected for severe and documented allergic reaction after eating food containing sesame. The major allergen was purified by gel filtration and characterized by isoelectric point (pI), glycosylation and amino acid sequencing., Results: All the patients had positive IgE antibodies and skin prick tests (SPTs) to sesame. The major, clinically most important allergen was a protein with molecular mass of about 9000. It was not glycosylated, the amino acid sequence showed it was a 2S albumin with a pI of 7.3; the small and the large subunits, forming the whole protein, showed pI values of 6.5 and 6.0.

Background: Apricots are widely grown in Europe, and allergic reactions are becoming more common, especially oral allergy syndrome. Apricot belongs to the botanical subfamily of Prunoideae, which includes peach, the major allergen of which was identified as a 9-kd protein, a lipid transfer protein (LTP)., Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the IgE reactivity pattern to an apricot extract in subjects with allergic reactions to apricot, as demonstrated by a positive oral challenge response., Methods: Thirty patients were investigated. All the patients displayed oral allergy syndrome (2 with systemic reactions) to apricot, with positive open food challenge responses, skin prick test responses, and serum-specific IgE antibodies to apricot. The IgE reactivity pattern to apricot extract was identified by using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The major allergen, a 9-kd protein, was then purified by HPLC and characterized by periodic acid-Schiff stain, isoelectric point determination, and N-terminal amino acid sequencing., Results: The sera from all patients allergic to apricot recognized the 9-kd protein, whereas none of the other allergens, with molecular weights from 15 to 80 kd, acted as a major allergen. The 9-kd allergen has an isoelectric point of 8.7 and is not glycosylated. Determination of the N-terminal 34 amino acid sequence showed that it belongs to the LTP family, with a 94% homology with the LTP from peach. IgE blotting of the apricot extract was completely inhibited by the 9-kd purified LTP from peach., Conclusions: The major allergen of apricot is an LTP, which is highly cross-reactive with the LTP from peach.

Background: Allergy to apple is commonly associated with birch pollinosis because the two share homologous allergens. However, some patients have apple allergy but no birch pollinosis, suggesting that there are allergens that do not cross-react with birch., Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the IgE reactivity pattern to an apple extract in subjects with allergic reactions to apple, with and without birch hay fever., Methods: Forty-three patients with oral allergy syndrome for apple and positive open food challenge, skin prick test, and serum specific IgE antibodies to apple were admitted to the study. Thirty-two had birch pollinosis (documented by specific IgE for birch) and 11 were not allergic to birch. The IgE reactivity pattern to apple extract was identified by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The consistent allergen, a 9-kd protein, was then purified by HPLC and characterized by periodic acid-Schiff staining, isoelectric point, and N-terminal amino acid sequencing., Results: The sera from 28% of patients allergic to apple with birch pollinosis, but from all patients allergic only to apple, recognized the 9-kd protein. This protein has an isoelectric point of 7.5 and is not glycosylated. Determination of its partial amino acid sequence showed that it belongs to the family of lipid transfer proteins, which act as major allergens in Prunoideae fruits., Conclusions: These results indicate that a lipid transfer protein is an important allergen in patients allergic to apple but not to birch pollen. The prevalent IgE reactivity to this allergen in subjects with no birch pollinosis and the physicochemical characteristics of this protein suggest that sensitization may occur through the oral route.

Background: Only a few studies have investigated the clinical role of food allergens, especially the relationship between sensitization to a given allergen and occurrence of adverse reactions when eating the relevant food item., Objective: This study evaluated the clinical role of the allergens of Brazil nut by comparing the patterns of IgE binding in sera from 11 patients with anaphylaxis after eating Brazil nuts with those from 10 subjects with no symptoms to this food item. Both groups had specific IgE to Brazil nut., Methods: Allergens in the in-house extract of Brazil nut were identified by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting, the major allergen was purified by HPLC, and its N-terminal sequence was determined by a protein sequencer., Results: SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting detected a number of allergenic components with molecular weights ranging from 4 to 58 kd. All sera from symptomatic patients recognized a 9-kd allergen corresponding (as established by amino acid sequencing) to a 2S albumin already described as a major allergen of Brazil nut, whereas the other allergens each bound IgE from less than 50% of sera. No sera from asymptomatic subjects showed IgE binding to the 9-kd allergen, but they did recognize components from 25 to 58 kd, which are minor allergens., Conclusions: These findings indicate that the allergen underlying clinical reactions to Brazil nut is a 2S albumin of 9 kd and that in vitro reactivity to this allergen identifies subjects who react in vivo to ingestion of this food.

Background: Allergic reactions to fruits and vegetables are among the most frequent food allergies in adults. Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) is commonly involved, causing local mucosal, systemic, or both types of symptoms by an IgE-mediated mechanism. In a previous study on 30 patients allergic to kiwi, we identified a major allergen of 30 kd against which all sera tested clearly reacted. Other allergens were detected at 12, 24, and 28 kd., Objective: The aim of this study was to fully characterize the major kiwi fruit allergen of 30 kd., Methods: Allergens were separated and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography with anion-exchange columns. The purity of the single proteins was checked by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their allergenicity was checked by immunoblotting with a pool of sera from patients allergic to kiwi. The allergens were characterized by isoelectrofocusing and amino acid sequencing, and periodic acid-Schiff stain was used to detect glycoproteins., Results: Proteins of 30, 28, 24, and 17 kd were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. IgE binding indicated the 30 kd protein, which showed an isoelectric point of 3.5, as the major allergen of kiwi. Determination of its partial amino acid sequence and comparison with the Swiss Protein Bank showed that this was actinidin, the main protein component of kiwi. The 24 and 28 kd proteins had the same N-terminal sequence, which did not correspond to any known protein. The 17 kd protein had a blocked N-terminal sequence., Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the major allergen of kiwi fruit, Act c 1, is actinidin, a proteolytic enzyme belonging to the class of thiol-proteases. Two other allergens of 24 and 28 kd appear identical on amino acid sequencing.

It is well known that L-asparaginase (L-Ase) treatment may cause thrombotic events in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The mechanism of this effect is not well understood although a reduction in plasma antithrombin III (AT III) levels is observed. In our study, a group of patients treated with L-Ase received AT III concentrates as adjuvant treatment. This adjuvant treatment reduced the levels of plasma D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin complex, which are considered as early markers of a hypercoagulability state. These preliminary data suggest that large randomized trials will have to be conducted to improve our understanding of the role of AT III concentrates in ALL therapy.