Clinical relevance of sensitization to peanut and lupine

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates that the use of purified allergens and techniques such as NMR spectroscopy has the potential to improve current diagnostic capabilities. It also shows that lupine allergy is fairly common in The Netherlands. Characteristics of lupine allergy such as the eliciting dose and the severity of symptoms closely mimic those of peanut allergy, while patients are unaware of the presence of lupine in their food. Lupine allergy can occur as a separate allergy or together with other legume allergies. The responsible allergens have been identified and showed remarkable differences. However, in both cases unique allergens were involved. Lupine allergy thus occurs as a co-allergy rather than a cross-reactive allergy.