Pru p 7 sensitization is a predominant cause of severe, cypress pollen-associated peach allergy.

BACKGROUND: Peach is a common elicitor of food allergic reactions. Peach-induced immediate reactions may occur as benign pollen-food syndromes, usually due to birch pollen-related PR-10 cross-reactivity in temperate climates, and as potentially severe primary food allergies, predominantly related to nsLTP Pru p 3 in Mediterranean regions. The newly described peach allergen Pru p 7 has gained recent attention as a potential peach allergy severity marker. Sensitization to Pru p 7 and its allergenic homologues of the gibberellin-regulated protein family occurs in areas with high Cupressaceae tree pollen exposure. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the distribution, clinical characteristics and molecular associations of Pru p 7 sensitization among subjects with suspected peach allergy in different regions of France. METHODS: Subjects with suspected peach allergy (n = 316) were included. Diagnostic work-up was performed according to current guidelines, including open food challenge when required. IgE antibody measurements and competition experiments were performed using the ImmunoCAP assay platform. RESULTS: Sensitization to Pru p 7 was present in 171 (54%) of all subjects in the study and in 123 of 198 (62%) diagnosed as peach allergic, more than half of whom were sensitized to no other peach allergen. Frequency and magnitude of Pru p 7 sensitization were associated with the presence of peach allergy, the clinical severity of peach-induced allergic reactions and the level of cypress pollen exposure. Cypress pollen extract completely outcompeted IgE binding to Pru p 7. Pru p 7 was extremely potent in basophil activation tests. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A subtype of Cupressaceae pollinosis, characterized by Pru p 7 sensitization, can be an underlying cause of severe peach allergy.

Quality of life of parents living with a child suffering from atopic dermatitis before and after a 3-month treatment with an emollient.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be extremely disabling and may cause psychological problems for affected children and their families. Moisturizers and emollients are important in the baseline daily skin care of patients with AD. To assess the effect of a 3-month, twice-daily treatment with an emollient on the quality of life (QoL) of parents with a child with mild to moderate AD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD] ≤ 30, a multicenter open trial was performed by eight dermatologists on 191 volunteers. Evaluation by the dermatologist of the child's clinical condition (SCORAD) and of the efficacy and overall safety of the treatment was associated with a QoL questionnaire completed by one parent of the atopic child. A self-assessment of the global QoL and of the efficacy and overall safety was also performed. During the study, mean SCORAD dropped from 28 to 12 (p < 0.001), with good improvement in skin dryness and pruritus criteria. At the same time, the self-assessment of the global parent QoL scores dropped from 4.4 to 2.1 (p < 0.001) with 60%, 48% and 79% favorable parent opinions regarding wellbeing or improvement of the health condition, quality of sleep, and efficacy of the emollient, respectively. This trial revealed the efficacy of the product in improving parent QoL (85% of parents noted improvement in QoL), and its global safety was considered to be very good or good, with 80% favorable opinions in parents' declarative judgements and dermatologists' assessments. The emollient evaluated improves the course of AD and can improve the QoL of patients and their families.