[And wine maketh glad the heart of man: is it so?--allergy to alcoholic drinks].

Adverse reactions to alcoholic drinks are common, especially in asthmatic patients. Since these drinks are the end product of a long process consisting of multiple ingredients, many factors may induce such reactions. This is a case study of a woman who has suffered from recurrent episodes of cutaneous eruption and dyspnea. Meticulous inquiry eventually revealed that drinking white wine was responsible for those symptoms. Grapes, barley, various fruits, alcohol, preserving substances like sulfite, biogenic amines like histamine and other ingredients can all be potential triggers of the adverse reactions to alcoholic drinks. On the other hand, alcohol has been shown to have various effects on the immune system including the allergic reaction. This case report and review of the literature may shed some light on this common yet unknown phenomenon.