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- Title
EpidemAAITO: Features of food allergy in Italian adults attending allergy clinics: a multi-centre study.
- Authors
Asero, R.; Antonicelli, L.; Arena, A.; Bommarito, L.; Caruso, B.; Crivellaro, M.; De Carli, M.; Della Torre, E.; Della Torre, F.; Heffler, E.; Lodi Rizzini, F.; Longo, R.; Manzotti, G.; Marcotulli, M.; Melchiorre, A.; Minale, P.; Morandi, P.; Moreni, B.; Moschella, A.; Murzilli, F.
- Abstract
Background Studies of the prevalence of different types of food allergy in adults are lacking. Objective To define the prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergies in Italian adults attending allergy clinics and to assess possible differences associated with geographical position and/or dietary habits. Methods Seventeen allergy outpatient clinics scattered throughout Italy participated to a multi-centre study in 2007. The number of atopic subjects and of food allergic patients along with clinical features were recorded by pre-defined criteria. Patients with unequivocal history of food allergy confirmed by positive skin prick test were included as cases. Results Twenty five thousand six hundred and one subjects were screened; 12 739 (50%) were atopic, and 1079 (8,5%) had IgE-mediated food allergy. Sixty four percent of patients were females. Overall, the most frequent food allergy was the pollen–food allergy syndrome (55%), which was associated with oral allergy syndrome in 95% of cases and whose frequency decreased southbound. Forty-five percent of patients had a type 1 food allergy, in most cases (72%) caused by fruits and vegetables, and generally associated with a history of systemic symptoms. Type 1 food allergies represented 96% of food allergies in the South. Lipid transfer protein (LTP) accounted for 60% of sensitizations and caused most primary food allergies in all areas. Conclusion Plant-derived foods cause most food allergies in Italian adults. The pollen–food allergy syndrome is the most frequent type of food allergy followed by allergy to LTP whose frequency increases southbound. The pattern of allergy to certain foods is clearly influenced by specific geographic features such as pollen exposure and dietary habits.
- Subjects
ITALY; DISEASES in adults; FOOD allergy; ALLERGENS; ITALIANS; DISEASE prevalence; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; FOOD habits; DISEASES
- Publication
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2009, Vol 39, Issue 4, p547
- ISSN
0954-7894
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03167.x