Allergen Data Collection: Poppy Seed (Papaver somniferum)
Internet Symposium on Food Allergens 3(2):87-92 (2001) [http://www.food-allergens.de]
1 Prevalence of Poppy Seed Allergy

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
RAST
timothy grass pollen 73%
birch pollen 45%
mugwort pollen 45%
Adverse Reactions
nuts 82%
sesame seed 18%
soybean, mustard, cinnamon, celery, apple, kiwi, orange, lemon, strawberry, egg white, and fish in 9%, each
Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999
Switzerland, Davos
5 patients with poppy seed allergy
RAST class  poppy seed poppy pollen
4 40% 0%
3 20% 0%
2 20% 20%
1-2 20% 0%
0-1 0% 80%
Vocks et al. 1987
Switzerland, Davos
5 patients with poppy seed allergy
  RAST/SPT Clinical History
poppy seed 100% 100%
hazelnut 100% 100%
rye flour 100% ?
sesame seed 40% ?
Seifert et al. 1988
Switzerland, Zurich
3 patients with poppy seed allergy
  SPT
poppy seed 3/3
hazelnut 3/3
Brazil nut 2/3
linseed 2/3
peanut 2/3
almond 1/3
sesame seed 1/3
walnut 1/3
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
angioedema (2, 5, 9), exacerbation of atopic dermatitis (8), eczema (8), generalized erythema (6), exanthema (8), swelling of face (6), flush (8), angioedema of glottis (5), itching of hands and feet (6), itching of mouth (6), angioedema of lips and palpebrae (5), swelling of the oral mucosa (3), pruritus (8), rhinoconjunctivitis (8), swelling of throat (4), urticaria (2, 3, 8), generalized urticaria (5, 6)

Gastrointestinal symptoms
abdominal pain (8), diarrhea (5, 8), laryngeal edema (3), epigastric pain (9), nausea (6, 8), vomiting (3, 5, 6, 8), oral allergy syndrome (8)

Respiratory symptoms
asthma (2, 5), cough (6, 8), respiratory distress (3, 9), dyspnoea (6), wheeze (4, 8)
 

(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

3 Composition of Poppy Seeds
 

4 Allergens of Poppy Seeds
 
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
Allergen  
5 kDa 27% 
14 kDa 45%
17 kDa 45% 
20 kDa 9% 
25 kDa 9% 
30 kDa 9%
34 kDa 36%
40 kDa* 9%
45 kDa* 91%
* glycoprotein (periodate treatment)
(SDS-PAGE immunoblot)
Jensen-Jarolim et al. 1999

5 Isolation & Preparation
 
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


6 Cross-Reactivities
 
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

8 Allergen Sources
 
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

9 References



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