CROSS-SENSITIZATION BETWEEN FOODS AND POL LENS

Allergies to some fruits and vegetables show strong associations with allergies to pollens. Common combinations are apples plus pollens of t he Betulaceae (birch) family and celery plus pollens of the Compositae family. The fruits most commonly involved are those of the Rosaceae ( rose) (e.g., apples, cherries) and Betulaceae (hazelnuts) families and the vegetables those of the Umbelliferae (celery, carrots) and Solana ceae (tomatoes, potatoes) families. Itching of the oropharyngeal area and edema of the lips are the most common clinical symptoms. Other com mon manifestations include asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, laryngeal angi oedema, and anaphylactic reactions (mainly to celery). The diagnosis c an be established by performing skin tests with fresh fruits and veget ables and by assaying specific IgEs in the serum. Molecular techniques will allow finer characterization of the main allergens of tree and g rass pollens and of fruits and vegetables, thus providing new insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in cross sensitization.