Díez-Gómez M L, Quirce S, Aragoneses E, Cuevas M
Department of Allergy, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1998 Jan;80(1):24-30. doi: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62934-1.
Ficus benjamina or weeping fig is a plant used increasingly for indoor decoration that can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma.
We report a clinical and immunologic study in a patient with perennial asthma caused by F. benjamina latex in whom several episodes of angioedema of the oropharyngeal tract and tongue followed ingestion of figs and kiwi.
Hypersensitivity to latex from F. benjamina and from Hevea brasiliensis, fig fruit, kiwi, papain, and bromelain was investigated by means of skin prick test, specific IgE determination by CAP, histamine release test, and bronchial provocation test to F. benjamina latex. CAP-inhibition assays were carried out to study possible cross-reactivity among these antigens.
Hypersensitivity to F. benjamina latex, fig, kiwi, and proteases was demonstrated by means of skin prick test, determination of specific IgE and histamine release test. Bronchial provocation test with F. benjamina latex resulted in a dual asthmatic reaction, confirming the etiologic role of this plant. A rise of eosinophil cationic protein in patient's serum was observed 21 hours after bronchial challenge, suggesting activation of eosinophils. Inhibition assays showed that F. benjamina latex as liquid-phase inhibited up to 95% the CAP to fig and up to 57% the CAP to papain. Neither sensitization nor cross-allergenicity with H. brasiliensis latex was found.
Hypersensitivity to F. benjamina latex may cause IgE-mediated respiratory allergy. The association with allergy to fig and papain is likely due to the existence of cross-reactive allergen structures.
垂叶榕或垂枝榕是一种越来越多地用于室内装饰的植物，可引起变应性鼻炎和哮喘。
我们报告了一项针对一名由垂叶榕乳胶引起的常年性哮喘患者的临床和免疫学研究，该患者在食用无花果和猕猴桃后出现了几次口咽和舌头血管性水肿发作。
通过皮肤点刺试验、CAP法测定特异性IgE、组胺释放试验以及对垂叶榕乳胶进行支气管激发试验，研究对垂叶榕和巴西橡胶树乳胶、无花果果实、猕猴桃、木瓜蛋白酶和菠萝蛋白酶的超敏反应。进行CAP抑制试验以研究这些抗原之间可能的交叉反应性。
通过皮肤点刺试验、特异性IgE测定和组胺释放试验证实了对垂叶榕乳胶、无花果、猕猴桃和蛋白酶的超敏反应。用垂叶榕乳胶进行支气管激发试验导致双重哮喘反应，证实了这种植物的病因学作用。支气管激发试验后21小时观察到患者血清中嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白升高，提示嗜酸性粒细胞活化。抑制试验表明，垂叶榕乳胶作为液相可抑制高达95%的对无花果的CAP和高达57%的对木瓜蛋白酶的CAP。未发现对巴西橡胶树乳胶的致敏或交叉变应性。
对垂叶榕乳胶的超敏反应可能导致IgE介导的呼吸道过敏。与对无花果和木瓜蛋白酶过敏的关联可能是由于存在交叉反应性变应原结构。
