Clinical Features of Wheat Allergy Are Significantly Different between Tri a 14 Sensitized Patients and Tri a 19 Sensitized Ones.

INTRODUCTION: Wheat is the most important cereal for human nutrition but its high consumption is associated to an increasing complaint of wheat-related disorders, many of which are allergic in nature and different in respect to the involved allergens. In this study, we compared the clinical aspects of wheat allergy presented by patients sensitized to Tri a 19 in respect to those presented by patients sensitized to Tri a 14.

METHODS: With this aim, we selected patients sensitized to 1 or both of the 2 allergens, and among these we identified those who were really wheat allergic and reactive on the basis of a standardized methodology. We evaluated the clinical features such as the kind and severity of symptoms, the coexistence of triggering factors such as physical exercise and NSAIDs and alcohol consumption, and the association with other allergens and with various immunologic parameters. Wheat allergy in Tri a 19 sensitized patients was confirmed through a questionnaire while the patients sensitized to Tri a 14 underwent wheat challenge with 100 g of pasta followed by exercise on a treadmill.

RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients sensitized to Tri a 14 and 40 patients sensitized to Tri a 19 were recruited. The 2 sensitizations were independent with a significant inverse relation (p < 0.00001). The Tri a 19 sensitized patients presented, in respect to the Tri a 14 sensitized ones, an older age (p = 0.0017), a higher risk to be wheat allergic (p < 0.0001), a higher severity of the reactions (p < 0.00001) and a higher association with some cofactors, namely alcohol (p < 0.0005) and physical exercise (p = 0.003). On the contrary, Tri a 14 sensitization was associated with atopy (p < 0.0001), with a higher probability of patients being asymptomatic (p < 0.0001) and being sensitized to other foods, in particular to nuts and cereals (p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to Tri a 19 or Tri a 14 determines different clinical pictures. In particular, sensitization to Tri a 19 implies a higher probability of severe reactions, even dependent on daily triggers, while that to Tri a 14 implies a higher cross-reactivity with other foods but it's more frequently asymptomatic, making a food challenge necessary to prevent useless food avoidance.