RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The maize (zea mays) is considered one of the fundamental nutrients in the diet of the Mexican population. It can cause allergic reactions, according to reports from countries other than Mexico. OBJECTIVE: To know the participation of maize in the etiology of allergic disease and the incidence of positivity to its antigens by cutaneous tests, in Mexican patients. METHODS: Six hundred sixty-one patients were studied. There were obtained a complete clinical history and samples for laboratory tests, as well as the results of cutaneous tests. RESULTS: Of 661 patients, 56 (8.5%) manifested allergic symptoms attributable to maize, which correlated (p < 0.0001) with a positive cutaneous response to its antigens. Fifty (88%) of them worked with maize and had a significant relative risk value (RR=102). The remaining six patients did not work with maize, four of them were included in the group who had a positive response for both allergens (n = 25), and two in that one with positive response for only one of these allergens (n = 100). CONCLUSIONS: The low frequency (8.5%) to which the allergic disease was attributed to maize, and the strong association (88%) with workers of maize induce us to consider the influence of some differences concerning to the cereal, such as physical characteristics, years and frequency to contact with, and specially to its entrance route. In fact, it plays an important role in the development of either toleragenic or immunogenic response to an antigen.
