Anaphylactic reactions to pomegranate: identification and characterization of eliciting IgE-reactive components

Patients and methods A 26 year old female patient developed erythema, swelling of the ears and pruritus within 10 min after ingestion of pomegranate. She is allergic to birch pollen and apple. Prick and IgE tests revealed a positive reaction to mites, tree and grass pollen, ambrosia, mugwort and apple. Scratch test was positive for pomegranate, the seeds showing a stronger reaction than the juice. Oral provocation test with kiwi, peach and cherry was negative. The serum was analysed for IgE reactivity by Western blotting. As extracts served different sections of pomegranate (juice, extract and seed). IgE-reactive protein bands were analyzed and identified by protein sequencing and homology screening.