J Korean Med Sci.
2018 Aug;33(33):e218. 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e218.
Oral Allergy Syndrome in Birch Pollen-Sensitized Patients from a Korean University Hospital
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. addchang@snu.ac.kr
- 2Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
- KMID: 2418427
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e218
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a type of allergic reaction that mainly occurs on oral contact with raw fruit, vegetables, or nuts. The most common type of OAS is birch pollen-related food allergy. Although OAS is a common food allergy in adults, only few epidemiologic studies have been reported in Korea. Here we investigate the prevalence and triggers of birch pollen-related food allergy.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 1,427 patients who underwent a skin prick test for inhalant allergens at the Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2011 to December 2016.
RESULTS
Of 1,427 patients, 125 (8.7%) were sensitized to birch pollen. Among them, 20.0% developed OAS, which was the most common food allergy (96.2%). The prevalence of OAS was higher in females, and was 18.2% in birch pollen-sensitized allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients. Further, 72.0% OAS patients had rhinoconjunctivitis, 20.0% had asthma, and 12.0% had chronic urticaria. Apple (68.0%), peach (56.0%), nuts (36.0%), kiwi (20.0%), persimmon (20.0%), plum (16.0%), and cherry (16.0%) were frequent triggers; however, Chinese yam, kudzu vine, bellflower root, codonopsis, and ginseng were also revealed as triggers. Patients (60.0%) showed OAS with ≥ 3 foods at the same time. Only 3 patients showed mono-sensitivity to birch pollen, while others were multi-sensitized to trees, grasses, weed, or house dust mite allergens.
CONCLUSION
OAS was the most common food allergy in birch pollen-sensitized patients. This study revealed the unique triggers of OAS in Korea in addition to well-known triggers.
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