Pulmonary hemosiderosis with hypersensitivity to buckwheat.

BACKGROUND

Adverse reactions after ingesting buckwheat are known to be IgE-mediated. Further, hypersensitivity reactions may be involved in some patients with pulmonary hemosiderosis related to cow milk sensitivity. We, however, encountered a patient with pulmonary hemosiderosis related to buckwheat protein without high levels of buckwheat-specific IgE antibodies.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms.

METHODS

RAST for anti-buckwheat IgE, skin prick test, skin patch test, and proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to buckwheat were investigated in this patient.

RESULTS

RAST values for buckwheat protein were negative, and skin prick test for buckwheat protein also gave negative results. On the other hand, skin patch testing for buckwheat protein elicited positive responses. Further, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of our patient responded to buckwheat protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Our patient had pulmonary hemosiderosis related to non-immediate buckwheat protein hypersensitivity.