Hypersensitivity to fennel is frequent in peach allergic patients and LTP is a major fennel allergen

Methods within a population of patients with peach allergic symptoms of variable severity we investigated which patients also had documented allergy to fresh fennel (Clinical Trials.gov, protocol ID NCT00715156). We examined the type of allergic reaction to fennel by means of a clinical questionnaire, skin prick test, prickprick with fresh fennel, open challenge and IgE-specific levels to fennel and to the following recombinant allergens: anti-rPru p 1, 3, 4, anti-rBet v 1, 2 and 4. We compared the different clinical reactions to fennel between patients with mild symptoms to peach (group A, 21pts) and patients with severe systemic symptoms to peach (group B, 16 pts). SDS-Page and IgE immunoblotting were performed with fennel extract and the Nterminal sequences of the allergenic molecules were determined analyzing the proteins eluted by SDS-gel on a protein sequencer. Immunoblotting inhibition was performed to evaluate the cross-reactivity between fennel and peach extract.