Standardization of in vitro methods.

IgE-antibody analysis is a major diagnostic procedure and a primary tool in allergological research. The determination of sensitization frequencies and antibody concentrations against allergens of defined sources provides critical information for the estimation of the relative importance of food and environment in clinical allergy. True quantitation is essential and requires assay designs providing allergen excess and mass unit calibration.

Oral allergy syndrome to a jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia).

A 30-year-old man from the Philippines with pollen allergy noted the appearance of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) after eating raw apple, raw peach, raw celery, and recently, jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia), a tropical fruit which belongs to the Moraceae family (mulberry) and to the genus Artocarpus (breadfruit tree). Despite the patient's multiple sensitization in skin prick tests and in the Pharmacia CAP System to birch, grass, mugwort pollen, related fruits and vegetables, and jackfruit, in RAST-inhibition studies neither rBet v 1 nor rBet v 2 (profilin), the well-known cross-reacting allergenic components in OAS, could inhibit the specific IgE response to jackfruit. Whether the reaction to jackfruit is specific or whether other pollen-related, cross-reacting allergenic components exist should be investigated further.

Inhalant allergy to fresh asparagus.

Background: Two patients experienced itching conjunctivitis, running nose, tightness of the throat and coughing during preparation of fresh asparagus. Eating asparagus after cooking did not provoke any allergic symptoms. Both patients were atopic, sensitized additionally to pollens of grasses and trees as well as to onion.