Journal List > Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis > v.21(4) > 1033136

Lee, Kim, Kwon, and Lee: Clinical Characteristics of Walnut Allergy and Evaluation of Cross-Reactivity between Walnut and Peanut in Children Under 4 Years of Age

Abstract

Purpose

Walnut (WN) allergy in young children has rarely been reported in Asia. This study focused on the clinical characteristics of WN allergy, co-sensitization, and cross-reactivity between WN and peanut (PN) in young Korean children.

Methods

This study was based on a data analysis of 22 patients, all under the age of 4 years, who were diagnosed with allergic disease at Ajou University Hospital from January 2009 to December 2010. They were suspected to have a WN allergy or needed a screening examination to exclude food allergy. Sera from all children were analyzed for PN-, WN-, and pine nut-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) (ImmunoCAP). Clinical details, feeding, and familial history of patients were collected by medical history. Additionally, we produced WN, PN, and pine nut extracts, and sera were tested with an enzyme linked immunosorbentassay inhibition test.

Results

The subjects were 16 male and 6 female with a median aged of 24 months. Ten of 22 had a definite history of WN exposure. Among them, two (4.28 kU/L, 11.1 kU/L) were diagnosed with anaphylaxis, four (7.34 to 27.4 kU/L) were diagnosed with angioedema, and four (1.35 to 3.17 kU/L) were diagnosed with urticaria. We confirmed that PN in the IgE-ELISA was profoundly inhibited by the WN extract.

Conclusion:

This study identified multiple cases of WN allergy in young children in Korea, indicating that it is not rare. Co-sensitization and clinical adverse reactions between PN and WN suggests that more investigations are needed to conclude cross-reactivity between PN and WN.

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Fig. 1.
Peanut immunoglobulin E-enzyme linked immunosorbentassay inhibition test using inhibitors; crude extract of peanut, walnut, pine nut, soybean and house dust mite.
pard-21-261f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Walnut immunoglobulin E-enzyme linked immunosorbentassay inhibition test using inhibitors; crude extract of peanut, walnut, pine nut, soybean and house dust mite.
pard-21-261f2.tif
Table 1.
Clinical Characteristics in Walnut Sensitized Subjects
Case e Sex Age (yr) Exposure history of food Route of exposure Clinical symptoms Total IgE Peanut IgE Pine nut IgE Walnut IgE
1 F 3 Walnut, First exposure Skin Dyspnea, Rash 236 0.35 0.35 4.28
2 M 2 Walnut, First exposure Oral Dyspnea, Swelling 363 0.35 0.35 11.1
3 M 2 Walnut, First exposure Oral Swelling, Rash ND 0.35 0.35 27.4
4 F 2 Walnut, First exposure Skin Swelling, Rash 275 0.6 0.37 8.79
5 M 1 Walnut, First exposure Oral Swelling, Rash 267 0.05 ND 8.36
6 M 1 Walnut, First exposure Oral Swelling, Rash 69 0.35 0.35 7.34
7 M 3 Walnut, First exposure Oral Rash 584 0.35 0.35 3.17
8 F 1 Walnut, First exposure Oral Rash 76 6.39 0.35 1.73
9 F 3 Walnut, First exposure Oral Rash 157 0.65 0.35 1.52
10 F 1 Walnut, First exposure Oral Rash 23 0.35 0.35 1.35
11 M 1 Peanut, Mixed nuts, Cashew Oral Swelling, Vomit, Rash 287 41.8 0.43 0.45
12 M 2 Peanut Oral Dyspnea, Rash 519 12.6 7.5 8.57
13 M 2 Peanut Oral Rash 216 2.98 0.3 0.69
14 M 2 Pine nut Oral Rash 80 0.54 0.79 2.43
15 M 0.6 Mixed nuts Skin Rash 3,387 1.30 0.46 0.81
16 M 1 Walnut with egg, mackerel Oral Rash 333 0.05 0.05 0.94
17 M 3 Yogurt Oral Swelling, Rash 214 1.88 0.35 1.55
18 M 0.9 Cheese Oral Swelling, Rash 561 17 0.35 0.51
19 F 3 Not defined Unknown Rash 174 0.05 0.05 0.58
20 M 1 Not defined Unknown Atopic dermatitis 2,218 60.8 7.77 1.25
21 M 2 Not defined Unknown Atopic dermatitis 395 5.51 0.35 1.2
22 M 3 Not defined Unknown Atopic dermatitis 1,020 3.37 0.4 2.29

IgE, immunoglobulin E, kU/L; ND, not done.

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