Allergen Data Collection - Update: Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia chinensis)

First reports of allergic reactions to kiwi fruit occurred relatively late in 1981, when this exotic fruit was becoming more common in nutrition in western countries. The prevalence of kiwi fruit allergy seems to be low in food allergic individuals. Nevertheless IgE mediated reactions after ingestion of kiwi fruit can be most severe, as shown by several cases of anaphylactic shocks. Belonging to the latexassociated fruitallergens, kiwi is involved in so-called oral allergy syndrome which is reflected by high frequencies of kiwi allergy in birch pollen and latex sensitive patients. This review represents data on prevalence, symptoms, and crossreacting allergens in tabular form. The molecular biological and allergenic properties of the two major kiwi allergens (Actinidin Act c 1 and a 43-kDa-Allergen) are summarized. (Internet Symposium on Food Allergens 2000, 2(Suppl.2):1-11)