Asia Pac Allergy.  2011 Oct;1(3):168-171. 10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.3.168.

Human seminal plasma allergy: successful pregnancy after prophylactic anti-histamine treatment

• Song WJ
• Kim DI
• Kim MH
• Yang MS
• Kim YJ
• Kim SH
• Cho SH
• Min KU
• Chang YS

• KMID: 2397436
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.3.168

Abstract

Human seminal plasma allergy is a rare phenomenon. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, and range from mild local pruritus to fatal anaphylaxis. Treatment varies with severity of the reactions: abstinence, condom usage or immunotherapy (subcutaneous or intravaginal) with seminal fluid. Local allergic reactions can be managed by prophylactic use of antihistamines or local cromolyn cream. A 33-year-old female visited the Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for the recurrent generalized urticarial reactions after sexual intercourse. She had been suffering from asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis for 10 years. She gave birth to a baby 6 months ago and no problem before. However, recently she began to recognize unexpected generalized urticaria that occurred after the sexual intercourse with husband. She wanted to have the second baby but hesitated because of the recurrent symptoms after the intercourse. She showed positive response to skin prick test with her husband's seminal fluid. The IgE-binding components were 15, 22, 28, and 35 kDa. Considering her moderate cutaneous reactions, we decided to try prophylactic treatments with oral anti-histamine one hour before sexual intercourse. She did not experience urticarial reactions with intercourse while oral anti-histamine was administered in advance. Finally, treatment outcome was successful, and the couple successfully gave birth to their second baby. We suppose that prophylactic antihistamine may be also applied in seminal plasma allergy patients if systemic reactions are limited to mild to moderate generalized urticaria.

Keyword

Seminal fluid allergy; Urticaria; Semen; Hypersensitivity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Coitus
Condoms
Cromolyn Sodium
Dermatitis, Atopic
Female
Histamine Antagonists
Humans*
Hypersensitivity*
Immunotherapy
Parturition
Pregnancy*
Pruritus
Semen*
Seoul
Skin
Spouses
Treatment Outcome
Urticaria
Cromolyn Sodium
Histamine Antagonists

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting assay of seminal plasma from the patient's husband and unrelated healthy controls. Husb: husband, C: controls.

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