Allergic asthma to thaumatin : case report

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_0C1C1C845ED2
Type
Inproceedings: an article in a conference proceedings.
Publication sub-type
Abstract (Abstract): shot summary in a article that contain essentials elements presented during a scientific conference, lecture or from a poster.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Allergic asthma to thaumatin : case report
Title of the conference
Joint Annual Meeting of the Swiss Respiratory Society, Swiss Society of Occupational Medicine, Swiss Paediatric Respiratory Society, Swiss Society for Thoracic Surgery, Davos (Switzerland), April 16/17, 2009
Author(s)
Chiarini Bastien
ISBN
1424-7860
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Volume
139
Series
Swiss Medical Weekly
Pages
17S
Language
english
Notes
SAPHIRID:79077
Abstract
Background: Thaumatin is a protein originally isolated from an African fruit (the "katemfe"), but various thaumatin-like proteins have been found in apples, grapes, kiwis and olives, etc. Thaumatin has natural sweetening properties and is about 2000 to 3000 times more potent than sucrose. It is therefore used in the food industry, particularly in the processing of low-calories sweeteners. Recently, thaumatin-like proteins have been described as a new family of allergens.
Methods: We report the case of a 44-year-old woman occupationally exposed to thaumatin, who developed an allergy to it. The first symptom was an urticaria, which she presented two years after the factory she was working in (a sweeteners manufacturer), started to use thaumatin. Later on, she perceived an acute episode of a sensation of lump in the throat, persisting mild dyspnea, dysphonia and cough. Despite normal peak flow values and a normal chest examination, her general practitioner treated her with local corticoids and systemic antihistaminic drugs, which improved the symptoms. As occupational physicians, we were asked about the likelihood of an occupational disease. We visited her working place, and assessed the exposure to thaumatin. We concluded that the probability for a delayed asthma related to a thaumatin exposure was high, despite the lack of an exposure test.
Results: The case was submitted to the insurance company as an occupational disease, and was accepted as such. It was therefore decided not to perform the exposure test, given the absence of true benefit for the patient, who was advised to switch job, and to avoid any exposure to thaumatin in the future. A few months later, the symptoms had completely disappeared.
Conclusion: Some molecules only used in specific industry sectors, can cause health problems, such as allergy, but also toxic impairments, etc. The occupational physician, trained to find out which products and identify which molecules are involved, can contribute to the diagnosis, and help make possible a safe return to work for the patient.
Keywords
Asthma , Sweetening Agents , Wheat Hypersensitivity , Allergy and Immunology
Create date
27/01/2010 12:20
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:33
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