Example of cross-reactivity: allergy to kiwi in patients with baker's asthma

Baker's asthma is a frequent IgE-mediated occupational disorder provoked by inhalation of cereal flour. Allergy to kiwi has being increasingly reported in the past few years but no association between both baker's asthma and kiwi allergy has been described so far.

This Spanish study evaluated 20 patients with occupational asthma caused by wheat flour inhalation (baker's asthma). Kiwi ingestion elicited oral allergy syndrome in 35% patients with baker's asthma.


Cross-reactivity in Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS) or Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) (click to enlarge the image).

Profilin is an actin-binding protein involved in the restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton. It is found in all eukaryotic organisms in most cells. Profilin may be a pan-allergen among plants that crossreacts between pollen, fruits, vegetables and latex.

References:
Allergy to kiwi in patients with baker's asthma: identification of potential cross-reactive allergens. Palacin A, Quirce S, Sánchez-Monge R, Fernández-Nieto M, Varela J, Sastre J, Salcedo G. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Aug;101(2):200-5.

Cross Reactions Among Foods (PDF).