ABSTRACT
A 67-year-old male patient twice developed severe angioedema after enjoying a meal and an after-dinner snuff. The cause for these allergic reactions was a type I allergy to tobacco contained in the snuff. In addition to positive prick tests to tobacco, specific serum IgE antibodies (CAP-FEIA) to snuff were found, while prick tests and RASTs for suspected foods were negative. Tobacco belongs to the family Solanaceae which includes tomatoes and potatoes and comes from South America. Whenever allergic reactions together with tobacco snuff use occur, a possible type I allergy should be considered and investigated.
Subject(s)
Angioedema/diagnosis , Angioedema/etiology , Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Hypersensitivity/etiology , Tobacco, Smokeless/adverse effects , Aged , Humans , Male , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Allergies to sperm are very uncommon. A 23-year old woman with atopic dermatitis complained of three attacks of angioedema, urticaria, wheezing and weakness. When questioned about factors causing exercise-induced anaphylaxis, the patient reported having had sexual intercourse with the same partner one hour before each event. When using condoms, no symptoms occurred. Human seminal plasma allergy was confirmed by positive skin testing with the partner's sperm. Specific IgE-antibodies against human seminal plasma were not found. The patient received an emergency kit for anaphylaxis.