Onset of Nut Allergy in a Pediatric Cohort: Clinical and Molecular Patterns in the AFRUSEN Study

Background: Nut allergy is a growing problem, yet little is known about its onset in children. Objective: To characterize the onset of nut allergy in children in southern Europe. Methods: The study population comprised consecutive patients up to 14 years of age who visited allergy departments with an initial allergic reaction to peanut, tree nut, or seed. The allergy work-up included a clinical history, food challenge, skin prick testing, determination of whole-extract sIgE, and ImmunoCAP ISAC-112 assay. Results: Of the 271 children included, 260 were first diagnosed with nut allergy at a mean age of 6.5 years and at a mean (SD) of 11.8 (21.2) months after the index reaction. The most common culprit nuts at onset were walnut (36.5%), peanut (28.5%), cashew (10.4%), hazelnut (8.5%), pistachio (5.4%), and almond (5%). Onset of peanut allergy was more frequent in children ≤6 years and walnut in those aged >6 years (P=.032). In 65% of cases, the allergic reaction occurred the first time the patient consumed the nut, and 35% of reactions were anaphylactic. Overall, polysensitization to nuts was detected by skin prick testing in 64.9% of patients, although this rate was lower among walnut-allergic children (54.7%) and peanut-allergic children (54.1%) (P<.0001). Sensitization to 2S albumins was predominant (75%), especially Jug r 1 (52.8%), whereas sensitization to lipid transfer proteins was less relevant (37%). Conclusion: In the population we assessed, the onset of nut allergy occurred around 6 years of age, slightly later than that reported in English-speaking countries. Walnut was the main trigger, followed by peanut. 2S albumin storage proteins, especially Jug r 1, were the most relevant allergens. This study will help guide management and may contribute to preventive strategies in pediatric nut allergy (AU)

Antecedentes: La alergia a frutos secos es un problema creciente. Sin embargo, existe poca información relativa al inicio de su establecimiento en la población infantil. Objetivos: Describir el debut de alergia a frutos secos en niños del sur de Europa. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes de hasta 14 años que acudieron de forma consecutiva a la consulta de alergia debido a una reacción inicial con cacahuete, frutos secos o semillas. El estudio alergológico incluyó realización de historia clínica, provocación oral, prueba intraepidérmica (SPT), determinación de IgE específica para extracto completo y mediante ImmunoCAP ISAC-112. Resultados: De los 271 niños incluidos, 260 se diagnosticaron de alergia a frutos secos por primera vez a los 6,5 años de media, habiendo tenido la reacción índice 11,8 (±21,2SD) meses antes. Los frutos secos responsables en el debut fueron nuez (36,5%), cacahuete (28,5%), anacardo (10,4%), avellana (8,5%), pistacho (5,4%) y almendra (5%). La instauración de la alergia a cacahuete fue más frecuente en niños ≤6 años y para nuez en >6 años (p=0,032). En el 65% de los casos, la reacción alérgica sucedió en la primera vez en que el paciente consumía el fruto seco, y el 35% de las reacciones fueron anafilaxia. En conjunto, la polisensibilización a frutos secos se identificó en el 64,9% de los pacientes, aunque este porcentaje fue significativamente inferior en niños alérgicos a nuez (54,7%) y cacahuete (54,1%) (p<0,0001). La sensibilización a albúminas 2S fue predominante (75%), especialmente a Jug r 1 (52,8%), mientras que la identificación de LTP fue menos relevante (37%). Conclusión: En nuestra población, el debut de alergia a frutos secos sucedió alrededor de los 6 años de edad, ligeramente más tardío al reportado en países anglosajones. La nuez fue el principal desencadenante, seguido de cacahuete, y las albúminas de almacenamiento 2S, especialmente Jug r 1, fueron los alérgenos más relevantes (AU)

Phenotypical characterization of tree nuts and peanut allergies in east Mediterranean children

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The characteristics of tree nuts (TNs) and peanut (PN) allergies vary in different regions of the world. We aim to identify the characteristics of TNs/PN allergies in Turkish children. Patients and METHODS: A total of 227 children [4.8 (3.2-6.8) years] with TN and/or PN allergies were included. The phenotypical features of TNs/PN allergic children and the risk factors for multiple TNs/PN allergies were evaluated. RESULTS: Allergy to TNs/PN developed at a median age of 12.0 (10.0-18.0) months. The most common TNs/PN responsible for food allergies were the hazelnut (63.9%) and the pistachio (54.6%). Of TNs/PN allergic children, 54.2% experienced reactions with at least two types of. Current ages 6-10 years [OR:2.455, 95% CI:1.255-4.852, p = 0.009] and family history of atopy [OR:2.156, 95% CI:1.182-3.932, p = 0.012] were the risk factors for multiple TNs/PN allergies. Most of the patients with cashew nut and pistachio allergies exhibited co-sensitization and co-allergy to both of these TNs/PN. Although the rarest TNs/PN allergy was seen with almond, the possibility of allergy to other TNs or PN was highly increased in the patients with almond allergy compared to other TNs/PN. CONCLUSIONS: Children with TNs/PN allergy living in an East Mediterranean region differ from the counterparts living in Western countries by an earlier age of onset of the TNs/PN allergy symptoms, increasing possibility to have multiple TNs/PN allergy at older ages, and different spectrum of TN/PN allergies (hazelnut followed by pistachio/cashew) that all indicate the consumption habits which are important determinants of TN/PN allergy development

No disponible