Rationale
Ficus carica is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ficus, from the family Moraceae, known as the common fig. Allergic anaphylactic reactions to fig fruit are scarcely reported.
Methods
A 50 year-old female experienced an episode of respiratory nasal and ocular symptoms (rhinoconjuntivitis) and severe abdominal pain immediately after the ingestion of a fig fruit. No bronchial symptoms were associated.
Results
Diagnostic work-up showed a positive prick-prick with both fresh raw and dried fig fruit with a total serum IgE of 312 UI/L and a significant serum specific IgE to fig fruit. Co-sensitization to rubber latex and tropical fruits and cross-reactivity between Ficus benjamina latex, was also studied and a distinctive serum molecular allergy diagnostic profile (ISAC®) was obtained. The patient did not consent to undergo a double blind placebo controlled challenge to fig fruit.
Conclusion
Herein we present the case of an IgE-mediated allergic anaphylactic reaction to fig fruit showing no cross-reactivity to rubber latex allergens.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this abstract and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.
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Gonzalez Perez, R., Poza Guedes, P., Sanchez Machin, I. et al. Immediate anaphylaxis after the ingestion of fig fruit (Ficus carica). Clin Transl Allergy 5 (Suppl 3), P167 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-7022-5-S3-P167
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-7022-5-S3-P167