Prevalence data are based on different diagnostic procedures. While the prevalence of sensitization (sensitivity) can be estimated by SPT, RAST, and immunoblot, a clinical relevant sensitization (allergy) is evaluated by convincing history (anamnesis) or food challenge tests (ideally by DBPCFC).
1.1 Subjects with Atopic or Other Diseases
| Country / Subjects | Allergy / Sensitivity | References |
| France
80 cases of food-related anaphylaxis (study period 1993-97) |
poppy seed 1.3% (reported to CICBAA databank) | European Commission 1998 |
| Switzerland, Zurich
383 food allergic patients (study period 1990-94) |
poppy seed 0.5%
(anamnesis, clinical relevance, diagnostic tests) |
Etesamifar & Wüthrich 1998 |
1.3 Associated Allergies
| Country / Subjects | Allergy / Sensitivity | References | ||||||||||||||||||
| Austria, Vienna
11 poppy seed allergic patients |
|
Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Switzerland, Davos
5 patients with poppy seed allergy |
|
Vocks et al. 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Switzerland, Davos
5 patients with poppy seed allergy |
|
Seifert et al. 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Switzerland, Zurich
3 patients with poppy seed allergy |
|
Gloor et al. 1995 |
2 Symptoms of Poppy Seed Allergy
| Symptoms & Case Reports | References |
| Systemic reactions
anaphylaxis (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8), exercise-induced anaphylaxis (10) Symptoms of skin and mucous membranes
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Respiratory symptoms
|
(1) Wagner & Ring 1981
(2) Vocks et al. 1987 (3) Braun & Kovary 1988 (4) Kalyoncu & Stalenheim 1993 (5) Vocks et al. 1993 (6) Gloor et al. 1995 (7) Crivellaro et al. 1999 (8) Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 (9) Frantzen et al. 2000 (10) Kütting & Brehler 2000 |
| Percentage of reactions
Oral allergy syndrome in 73%, abdominal symptoms in 36%, and systemic reactions in 100% of 11 poppy seed allergic patients (1) |
(1) Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Proteins / Glycoproteins | Allergen Nomenclature | References |
| 45-kDa Allergen | Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
4.1 Sensitization to Poppy Seed Allergens
| Country / Subjects | Sensitivity to | References | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Austria, Vienna
11 poppy seed allergic patients |
(SDS-PAGE immunoblot) |
Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Extract / Purified Allergens | Methods | References |
| Protein extract | Seeds extracted with 0.1-M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) for 2 h at 8°C, followed by centrifugation, vacuum filtration, and desalting on PD 10 columns | Vocks et al. 1993 |
| Protein extract | Seeds homogenized and extracted with PBS buffer (pH 7.2) containing thimerosal overnight, followed by centrifugation and dialysis | Crivellaro et al. 1999 |
| Protein extract | Seeds homogenized in a food processor, grinded in liquid nitrogen, and extracted with 10-mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing PVPP, EDTA, sodium diethylcarbamate and sodium azide by shaking overnight at 4°C; followed by centrifugation, dialysis, and lyophilization; storage at -20°C | Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Cross-Reacting Allergens | Subjects / Methods | References |
| Poppy Seeds (Pollen)
birch, mugwort, and timothy grass pollen |
Inhibition of IgE-binding to 45-kDa poppy seed allergen by birch, mugwort, and timothy grass pollen extracts (immunoblot inhibition, 1 patient) | Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Poppy Seeds (Pollen)
birch pollen (rBet v 1, rBet v 2) |
Cross-reactivity of IgE-binding proteins in poppy seed extract and recombinant birch pollen proteins rBet v 1 and rBet v 2 (profilin) (data not shown) | Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Poppy Seeds (Various
Foods)
hazelnut, rye flour |
50 to 100% inhibition of IgE- binding to poppy seed by
hazelnut in sera of 5 patients;
20% and 95 to 100% inhibition of IgE- binding to poppy seed by rye flour in sera of 1 and 2 patients, respectively (RAST inhibition) |
Seifert et al. 1988 |
| Poppy Seed (Various Foods)
hazelnuts, rye grain |
Decrease of IgE-binding to hazelnut and rye allergens by poppy seed extract (immunoblot inhibition, 5 poppy seed sensitive patients) | Vocks et al. 1993 |
7 Stability of Poppy Seed Allergens
| Treatment | Effects | References |
| Poppy Seeds (Heat)
roasted seeds |
IgE-binding proteins in extract from roasted poppy seeds (SDS-PAGE immunoblot, 11 patients) | Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999 |
| Poppy Seeds (Heat)
raw and baked seeds |
Positive SPT with raw and baked poppy seeds in a poppy seed allergic patient | Frantzen et al. 2000 |
| Reported Adverse Reactions | References |
| Poppy Seeds
After ingestion of poppy seeds (1) |
(1) see 2 Symptoms of Poppy Seed Allergy |
| Poppy Cake
Severe allergic reactions in patients after ingestion of poppy cake (1, 2, 3) |
(1) Wagner & Ring 1981
(2) Braun & Kovary 1988 (3) Frantzen et al. 2000 |
| Various Foods
Allergic reactions in a patient after ingestion of bread garnished with poppy seeds, ice cream with poppy seed toppings, and Indian food with unknown ingredients (1) Allergic reactions in 3 patients after ingestion of poppy cake, a nut product containing poppy seeds, and a bread roll with poppy seed toppings (2) 2 episodes of allergic reactions in a patient after ingestion of a cake and ice cream; both foods were garnished with poppy seeds (RAST, SPT) (3) |
(1) Kalyoncu & Stalenheim
1993
(2) Gloor et al. 1995 (3) Crivellaro et al. 1999 |
| Felt Off Poppy Seeds
Allergic reaction in a patient after ingestion of a bread roll which laid next to a bread roll with poppy seed toppings in the bread basket (1) |
(1) Vocks et al. 1987 |