The Effect of Atopy in the Prevalence of Contact Sensitization: The Experience of a Greek Referral Center.

Contact dermatitis is a well-known skin condition, which is related to stimuli and environmental exposure to chemicals, affecting all ages as well as both genders. In the present work, we attempt to investigate the patterns of contact sensitization, with respect to the personal history of atopy (AT), in Greece in a large number of allergens, using patch testing. The retrospective analysis included clinical routine data of 1978 patients collected from 2014 to 2016 in the Laboratory of Patch Testing, National Referral Centre of Occupational Dermatoses. Sensitization, in all cases, was tested with 28 allergens of the European baseline series as adjusted to our local circumstances and clinical experience. A total population of 1978 patients was evaluated, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.45 (1359 females/619 males). From our patient cohort, 693 (35%) patients were evaluated with a history of atopy, while 1285 (65%) were nonatopic. The five most prevalent allergens in the total population without AT were nickel sulphate 5% (15.47%), fragrance mix (I) 8% (9.10%), balsam of Peru (6.47%), cobalt chloride 1% (4.70%), and thiomersal 0.1% (4.10%). Respectively, in the total population with AT, the five most prevalent allergens were nickel sulphate 5% (10.36%), fragrance mix (I) 8% (5.11%), balsam of Peru (3.29%), thiomersal 0.1% (3.03%), and cobalt chloride 1% (2.78%). Contact dermatitis surveillance is of great importance towards the clinical and systematic understanding of the disease. Further studies should be directed towards that end, in order to facilitate more effective health policies.

Anaphylaxis to gadobenate dimeglumine (Multihance): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Gadolinium chelates are relatively safe contrast media used in MRI. Immediate severe adverse effects are exceptionally rare and mostly concern mild anaphylactoid reactions. We report a case of anaphylaxis to gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA, Multihance), a gadolinium-based contrast agent. METHODS: A 32-year-old female patient with a personal history of multiple sclerosis, while undergoing an MRI scan, developed bronchospasm and acute urticaria with diffuse giant pruritic plaques in the first minute of Gd-BOPTA infusion. The procedure was cancelled and acute treatment of the reaction took place. The patient reported 2 additional MRI scans with definite use of unknown contrast media in the past 2 years without any adverse effect. Blood samples were obtained 2 and 48 h after the reaction for measurement of serum tryptase concentration (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden). Skin prick tests and intradermal tests were performed using 1:1,000, 1:100 and 1:10 dilution of the offending agent and alternative gadolinium-based agents [gadodiamide (Omniscan) and gadoteric acid (Dotarem)]. A group of 10 nonatopic individuals who underwent the same skin testing comprised the control group. RESULTS: Tryptase concentration was highly elevated 2 h after the reaction (21 microg/l) compared with that at 48 h (3 microg/l). Skin prick tests in our patient were all negative, while intradermal testing with 0.03 ml of 1:100 and 1:10 preparations of Multihance showed a definite positive wheal-and-flare reaction. Skin tests to the alternative agents showed no response. In the control group, all performed tests were negative. CONCLUSION: We report the first case of an allergic reaction to gadobenate dimeglumine. Besides, skin testing seems to be a precious diagnostic tool which, if positive, strongly suggests a mast cell-mediated underlying mechanism.

Sensitization to other foods in subjects with reported allergy to grapes.

The grape is widely produced and consumed in the Mediterranean area. The object of this prospective study was to present in detail the clinical features of patients with documented immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to grapes or its products as well as the existing cosensitizations in other food allergens among this population. Sixty-one patients (27 male patients and 34 female patients), aged 14-52 years (mean, 28.8 years) with a documented history of IgE-mediated reactions to grapes or its products (wine, juice, and wine vinegar) were included in this study. In each patient, full allergological data, clinical examination, and specific in vivo (skin-prick tests and prick-to-prick) and in vitro (grape-specific IgE) evaluations were recorded. The diagnostic procedure was extended in other food allergens and molds for exclusion of fruit surface contamination. Thirty-seven of 61 (60.7%) patients had a positive personal history and 24/61 (39.3%) patients had a family history of atopy. Patients reported 3.1 episodes/patient (range, 1-15 episodes) after consumption of grapes or its product. Forty-seven of 61 (77%) patients had presented oral allergy syndrome after eating grapes before the first reported reaction. The mean time for the onset of symptoms was 42 minutes (4-160 minutes). Forty-four of 61 (72.1%) patients reported more than one reaction. The observed prevalence of symptomatology according to the system involved was determined: skin, 57/61(93.4%) patients; respiratory, 46/61(75.4%) patients; cardiovascular, 27/61 (44.3%) patients; and gastrointestinal, 24/61(39.3%) patients. The main cosensitizations were identified (skin-prick tests): apples, 81.9%; peaches, 70.5%; cherries, 47.5%; strawberries, 32.8%; peanuts, 49.2%; walnuts, 42.6%; hazelnuts, 31.1%; almonds, 26.2%; and pistachios, 29.5%. The grape and its products may be the offending agent of IgE-mediated reactions in sensitized individuals. The high prevalence of concomitant reactivity to other fruits elicits the interest of clinical relevance of these findings among the grape-allergic population.

Grape anaphylaxis: a study of 11 adult onset cases.

Reports of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic reactions to grapes and wine are limited in the literature. Nevertheless, grapes are widely grown and consumed in Mediterranean countries. The object of this prospective study was to present clinical features, in vivo and in vitro allergy testing, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) serotyping in patients with recurring reactions to grapes and grape products. Eleven unrelated Greek patients, six men and five women (aged 16-44 years; mean, 26.9 years) were enrolled based on a documented history of IgE-mediated reactions to grapes, wine, or other grape products. Their evaluation included full history, reaction severity, clinical examination, skin-prick tests with food allergens and molds, serum IgE, specific IgEs to the same allergen battery, and HLA typing. Patients reported 35 grape-induced anaphylaxis episodes ranging from moderate (more than one system involved but not prominent respiratory or cardiovascular symptoms; 45.5%) to severe (serious respiratory obstruction and/or hypotension and loss of consciousness; 54.5%). A causative agent was identified: wine, 10/35 (28.6%); red grapes, 9/35 (25.7%); stuffed vine leaves, 8/35 (22.9%); raisins, 3/35 (8.6%); white grapes, 2/35 (5.7%); wine vinegar, 2/35 (5. 7%); and grape juice, 1/35 (2.9%). Other foods that induced anaphylaxis were apples (54.5%), cherries (18.6%), peaches (18.6%), and bananas (9.3%). Specific IgE values were in accordance with skin-prick tests reactivity. Concerning HLA typing, 9/11 possessed HLA-DR11(5) and -DQ7(3) and the remaining two possessed HLA-DR17(3) and -DQ2 antigens. Grapes, wine and other grape products might cause serious allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. The cosensitization and reaction incidence to other fruit allergens could be a basis for further investigation of panallergens of fruits. HLA class II antigens may contribute in genetic predisposition to these allergic reactions.