Latex fruit syndromeT78.1

In 30-70% of latex-sensitized people, allergies to various fruits also occur, including carrot, tomato, chestnut, potato, kiwi, celery, apple, melon, peach, fig, passion fruit, usually in the sense of an oral allergy syndrome. However, in large test series, clinical relevance could only be established in 8-50% of those tested positive (Beezold DH et al. 1996).

Anaphylactic reactions were observed after consumption of bananas and avocado.

The cross-reactions are mainly attributed to the major latex allergen, hevamine (Hev b 1). Furthermore, a structure with lysozyme activity (27kD), which is similar to that of avocado, papaya and figs, is also found in the potato, as is the papatin (Sol t 1).

1. Beezold DH et al (1996) Latex allergy can induce clinical reactions to foods. Clin Exp Allergy 26: 416-422
2. Hausen BM, Vieluf K (1997) Allergy plants, plant allergens. Ecomed Publishing House Landsberg/Munich
3. Jäger L, Wüthrich B (1998) Food allergies and intolerances. Gustav Fischer, Ulm Stuttgart Jena Lübeck 94-95