Premium
Diagnosis and natural course of allergy to cooked potatoes in children
Author(s) -
De Swert L. F. A.,
Cadot P.,
Ceuppens J. L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01368.x
Subject(s) - medicine , allergy , food allergy , provocation test , oral allergy syndrome , angioedema , anaphylaxis , asthma , pediatrics , dermatology , immunology , pathology , alternative medicine
Background: Allergy to heat stable potato proteins can cause severe allergic disease in children. Objective: To study diagnostic criteria for allergy to cooked potatoes and to describe its clinical characteristics and natural history. Methods: Thirty‐six children, aged 4–36 months, with atopic symptoms and having a positive potato‐CAP and/or skin prick test (SPT) were included. Potato allergy was documented by means of provocation, or elimination and reintroduction or an unequivocal clinical history. Potato‐CAP and SPT with a commercial extract were evaluated for diagnostic performance. Results: Presenting symptoms in children with proven potato allergy ( n = 17) were eczema (16 of 17), gastrointestinal complaints (eight of 17), urticaria and/or angioedema (five of 17), wheezing/rhinitis (three of 17) and anaphylaxis (two of 17). Fifteen children had previously diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy and were egg‐sensitized. Potato‐CAP at cut‐off >2 kU/l provided a 100% sensitivity and a 62.5% specificity for diagnosis of potato allergy, while a SPT score ≥ 3 had a 100% sensitivity and a score ≥ 4 had a 100% specificity. Tolerance to cooked potato was achieved in 80% of subjects at age 16–102 months. Of 12 subjects having reached the age of 3 years during the study, 10 were re‐evaluated at age 3–6 years: seven of 10 subjects had developed clinical pollen allergy, compared with four of 18 atopic controls ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Potato‐CAP and SPT at specific cut‐off are valuable tools in the diagnosis of allergy to cooked potato. Most children with potato allergy develop tolerance at mean age of 4 years. Allergy to cooked potatoes is a risk factor for the development of pollen allergy.