Apple allergyT78.4

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Dieser Artikel auf Deutsch

Synonym(s)

Mal d 1; Mal d 2; Mal d 3

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please login to access all articles, images, and functions.

Our content is available exclusively to medical professionals. If you have already registered, please login. If you haven't, you can register for free (medical professionals only).


Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please complete your registration to access all articles and images.

To gain access, you must complete your registration. You either haven't confirmed your e-mail address or we still need proof that you are a member of the medical profession.

Finish your registration now

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Fruit allergy after consumption of cultivated apples (Malus domestica).

ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.

For the molecular diagnosis of malus domesticus (apple) the following "apple allergens" are included:

Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.

The symptoms of apple allergy are manifold. While mainly mild symptoms are observed in Northern and Central Europe, apple allergy sufferers in Southern Europe often have severe reactions (cause: different allergens). Apple allergy sufferers in Northern and Central Europe mainly suffer from local reactions in the mouth and throat area ( oral allergy syndrome). This is caused by the heat-labile, apple-specific protein Mal d 1 (is formed during apple ripening). Mal d 1 has great molecular similarities to Bet v 1 (main allergen of birch pollen - see birch below), so that cross-reactions are frequent (about 50-75% of all birch pollen allergy sufferers in Northern and Central Europe are affected by an apple allergy at the same time). Thus, an apple allergy directed against Mal d 1 often develops via an already existing sensitisation to birch pollen (pollen-associated food allergy). The milder course of this food allergy is probably due to the instability of mal d 1 protein in the digestive tract.

In Southern Europe (where sensitisation to tree pollen is not relevant for the development of apple allergy), the allergic reactions are mainly caused by the apple allergen Mal d 3. Mal d 3 (nsLipidtransferprotein - LTP) is mainly located in the fruit peel. NsLTPs are widespread in the plant kingdom and play a role in the defence against bacterial and fungal infections. They are insensitive to enzymatic processes, low pH-values and above all to the effects of heat (heat-stable). Thus, allergic symptoms can also occur when eating processed apples. Cross-reactions to similar proteins of other fruits belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae) are possible. The most common cause is a simultaneous allergy to peach. Mal d 2 and mal d 4 are further allergens of the apple. They have a lower allergological significance than Mal d 1 and Mal d 3.

DiagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.

The individual sensitivity must be clarified by allergen tests. Allergy sufferers with mild symptoms can often tolerate processed products and low-allergen apple varieties!

Differential diagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.

  • Frequent cross-reactions with apple allergy:
    • Pollen of birch, hazel, alder.
  • Other members of the Rosaceae family:
    • Apricot, pear, blackberry, strawberry, rose hip, wood apple, raspberry, cherry, cherry plum, loganberry, loquat, almond, medlar, peach, plum, pimpernel, sour cherry, blackthorn, plum.

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Apple allergens are often inactivated by heating and/or enzymatic browning (crushing). Processed products such as apple compote, apple juice or apple pie are therefore often tolerated by apple allergy sufferers (see above). The allergenic potency of apples is strongly dependent on variety and degree of ripeness:

  • Highly allergenic apple varieties: e.g. Cox orange, Golden Del., Granny Smith, Jonagold, Braeburn
  • Weakly allergenic apple varieties: e.g. Boskop, Jamba, Gloster, Gravensteiner, Altländer, Hammerstein, Berlepsch, Goldparmäne

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Gomez F et al.(2014) High prevalence of lipid transfer protein sensitization in apple allergicpatients
    with systemic symptoms PLoS One 9:e107304.
  2. Kleine-Tebbe J et al (2016) Molecular allergy diagnostics with IgE single determinations (singleplex): Methodological and practical aspects In: Kleine-Tebbe JK et al (Hrsg) Molecular allergy diagnostics. Springer Publishing House GmbH S91-138
  3. WHO/IUS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020