Purpose
Although buckwheat allergy is one of the most severe food allergies in some countries, especially in children, few studies have investigated this condition. The aim of this study was to report clinical and laboratory findings of buckwheat allergy in Korean children.
Methods
Thirty-seven subjects, aged 1 to 14 years, were enrolled by retrospective medical record review from January 2000 through May 2015 at the Department of Pediatrics in Ajou University Hospital. Demographic profiles, previous exposure to buckwheat pillows, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings were recorded.
Results
Twenty-six out of 37 children had immediate-type allergic symptoms to buckwheat, while 11 subjects were tolerant to buckwheat. Seventeen (65.4%) out of 26 buckwheat allergic children had anaphylaxis. The median buckwheat specific immunoglobulin E level in the buckwheat allergic group (7.71 kUA/L) was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that in the buckwheat tolerant group (0.08 kUA/L) with an optimal cut-off value of 1.27 kUA/L (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 100%). When adjusted for age between two groups, the difference showed borderline significance (P=0.063). In subjects who had anaphylaxis, buckwheat-specific immunoglobulin E levels ranged from 0.37 kUA/L to 100 kUA/L.
Conclusion
Almost two-thirds of buckwheat-allergic children had anaphylaxis. Amongst these children, a wide-range of buckwheat specific immunoglobulin E levels were observed. Anaphylaxis occurred in a subject with a remarkably low level of immunoglobulin E (0.37 kUA/L).
