P A Greenberger1, M J Flais. 1. Division of Allergy-Immunology and the Ernest S. Bazley Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3008, USA. p-greenberger@northwestern.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The food supplement bee pollen has been previously found to cause anaphylactic reactions. It has been proposed as useful for "everything from bronchitis to hemorrhoids." OBJECTIVE: This study describes an atopic patient who experienced a non-life-threatening anaphylactic reaction upon her initial ingestion of bee pollen. Microscopic examination of the pollen sample and ELISA inhibition assays were performed. RESULTS: The patient had a 7 mm/28 mm wheal/erythema reaction to bee pollen at 1 mg/mL concentration. Bee pollen caused 52% inhibition of IgE binding to short ragweed and 55% to ryegrass. Microscopic analysis revealed ragweed, Alternaria, Cladosporium, honeysuckle (Lonicera sp), privet shrub (Ligustrum sp), and vetch (Vicia sativa). CONCLUSIONS: An unknowingly sensitized atopic patient experienced an anaphylactic reaction after ingestion of a small quantity of bee pollen that contained pollens and fungi. Previously administered allergen immunotherapy that had reduced rhinitis symptoms did not prevent this allergic reaction.
BACKGROUND: The food supplement bee pollen has been previously found to cause anaphylactic reactions. It has been proposed as useful for "everything from bronchitis to hemorrhoids." OBJECTIVE: This study describes an atopic patient who experienced a non-life-threatening anaphylactic reaction upon her initial ingestion of bee pollen. Microscopic examination of the pollen sample and ELISA inhibition assays were performed. RESULTS: The patient had a 7 mm/28 mm wheal/erythema reaction to bee pollen at 1 mg/mL concentration. Bee pollen caused 52% inhibition of IgE binding to short ragweed and 55% to ryegrass. Microscopic analysis revealed ragweed, Alternaria, Cladosporium, honeysuckle (Lonicera sp), privet shrub (Ligustrum sp), and vetch (Vicia sativa). CONCLUSIONS: An unknowingly sensitized atopic patient experienced an anaphylactic reaction after ingestion of a small quantity of bee pollen that contained pollens and fungi. Previously administered allergen immunotherapy that had reduced rhinitis symptoms did not prevent this allergic reaction.
Authors: Shaden A M Khalifa; Mohamed H Elashal; Nermeen Yosri; Ming Du; Syed G Musharraf; Lutfun Nahar; Satyajit D Sarker; Zhiming Guo; Wei Cao; Xiaobo Zou; Aida A Abd El-Wahed; Jianbo Xiao; Hany A Omar; Mohamed-Elamir F Hegazy; Hesham R El-Seedi Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-05-31 Impact factor: 5.717