Sensitization and Allergy to <i>Cannabis sativa</i> Leaves in a Population of Tomato <i>(Lycopersicon esculentum)</i>-Sensitized Patients

Vol. 146, No. 3, 2008

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Original Paper

Sensitization and Allergy to Cannabis sativa Leaves in a Population of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)-Sensitized Patients
Carlos Hernando de Larramendi^a, Jerónimo Carnés^b, José Luís García-Abujeta^a, Ana García-Endrino^a, Elena Muñoz-Palomino^a, Ángel Julio Huertas^c, Enrique Fernández-Caldas^b, Ángel Ferrer^d

^aUnidad de Alergia, Hospital Marina Baixa, Villajoyosa (Alicante) and Centro de Especialidades Foietes, Benidorm,
^bLaboratorios LETI S.L., Research and Development Department, Tres Cantos,
^cServicio de Alergia, Hospital General Básico de la Defensa, Cartagena, and
^dUnidad de Alergia, Hospital de la Vega Baja, Orihuela, Spain

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2008;146:195-202 (DOI: 10.1159/000115887)

Key Words

Allergy
Cannabis sativa
Tomato
Lycopersicon esculentum
Peach
Artemisia vulgaris
Platanus hybrida
Cross-reactivity
Contact urticaria

Abstract

Background: Cases of allergy to Cannabis sativa have occasionally been reported, but both the allergenic profile and eventual cross-reactivity pattern remain unknown. Objective: To analyze the allergenic profile of a population of patients from Spain sensitized to C. sativa and to characterize the C. sativa leaf extract. Methods: A total of 32 subjects were enrolled in the study: group A, 10 individuals sensitized to tomato, reporting reactions by contact or inhalation to Cannabis; group B, 14 individuals sensitized to tomato, without reactions to Cannabis; group C, 8 individuals not sensitized to tomato and without reactions to Cannabis. Sensitivity to Cannabis, tomato and peach peel, Platanus hybrida and Artemisia vulgaris pollen extracts was measured by skin tests and specific IgE. Individual immunoblots and inhibition experiments with a pool of sera were conducted. Results: All tomato-sensitized subjects (and 1 negative) had positive skin tests to C. sativa leaves and hashish. Specific IgE to C. sativa and peach peel was more common than to tomato. Immunoblot experiments showed 2 prominent bands of 10 and 14 kDa and 2 weakly recognized bands of 30 and 45 kDa. Tomato, peach and A. vulgaris extracts inhibited most of the bands present in C. sativa. P. hybrida inhibited only the high-molecular-weight bands. Conclusion: Sensitization to C. sativa with or without symptoms is frequent among patients in Spain sensitized to tomato. C. sativa leaves are a potential allergenic source and their allergens may cross-react with other allergenic sources from plants (fruit peels and pollen).

Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Carlos Hernando de Larramendi Martínez
Unidad de Alergia, Hospital Marina Baixa
C/ Alcalde Jaume Botella Mayor 7
ES-03570 La Vila Joiosa, Alacant (Spain)
Tel. +34 96 680 0029, Fax +34 96 685 9900, E-Mail chernandol@seaic.es

Article Information

Received: July 18, 2007
Accepted after revision: October 30, 2007
Published online: February 11, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 30

Medline Abstract (ID 18268387)

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