STUDY OF A CASE OF HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LETTUCE (LACTUCA-SATIVA)

Background Allergic reactions to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) are not too frequent and few cases of systemic adverse reactions after its ingesti on have been described. Objective We report a case of clinical sensiti zation to lettuce on a patient who presented mucocutaneous manifestati ons after its ingestion, with positive skin tests, histamine release t est and serum specific-IgE to lettuce. The allergens responsible for t his sensitization were also characterized by means of SDS-PAGE immunob lotting. Materials and methods We performed skin tests, histamine rele ase test, serum specific IEE determination and CAP inhibition with let tuce and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) extracts. An aqueous and enriche d lettuce (from loose leaf type) extract was subjected to SDS-PAGE imm unoblotting for determination of its IgE-binding components. Results a nd Conclusions CAP inhibition showed antigenic community between lettu ce and mugwort. Four protein bands from the lettuce extracts with mole cular weights of 50, 43, 39 and 16 kDa exhibited IgE-binding propertie s.