Pradalier A, Leriche E, Trinh Ch, Molitor J L
Service de Médecine interne IV, Centre d'Allergie de l'Ouest Parisien, Hôpital Louis Mourier, 178 rue des Renouillers, Colombes 92700.
Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Nov;36(9):326-9.
Ficus benjamina (FB), the weeping fig, belonging to the Moracea family, is now widely used as an indoor ornamental plant in houses and offices. Its latex can be responsible of IgE allergies : rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, angiooedema, pruritus, anaphylactic shock. In some occupations such as gardeners, caretakers of plants, it can induce a contact urticaria. Most of these patients are atopics. We describe a case of non-occupational, indoor related rhinoconjunctivitis in a non-atopic patient. Prick-test and RAST to FB latex were positive and removal of the ficus plant resolved their symptoms confirming the etiologic role of the plant. The patient did not demonstrate sensitization to other common allergens (except weeds) involved in respiratory (latex of Hevea brasiliensis, mites...) and food allergies (negativity of the prick-tests for fig, avocado, banana, kiwi). Now, FB is a new hidden allergen in the house. Questionning for its presence and testing it should be considered; as it should be introduced in the standard prick-test panel.
垂叶榕（FB），又称垂枝榕，属于桑科，现被广泛用作室内观赏植物，放置于家庭和办公室中。其乳胶可引发IgE过敏反应：如鼻结膜炎、哮喘、血管性水肿、瘙痒、过敏性休克。在一些职业中，如园艺工人、植物养护人员，它可诱发接触性荨麻疹。这些患者大多为特应性体质。我们描述了一例非特应性患者因室内接触垂叶榕而引发非职业性鼻结膜炎的病例。对垂叶榕乳胶进行点刺试验和放射性变应原吸附试验（RAST）均呈阳性，移除垂叶榕植株后症状缓解，证实了该植物的病因学作用。该患者对其他常见的呼吸道过敏原（如巴西橡胶树乳胶、螨虫等）和食物过敏原（对无花果、鳄梨、香蕉、猕猴桃的点刺试验均为阴性）未表现出致敏反应。如今，垂叶榕是室内一种新的潜在过敏原。应考虑询问其是否存在并进行检测，同时应将其纳入标准点刺试验检测项目中。
