Table 2.
Characteristics of patients with carmine allergy
| No. | Age | Sex | U/AE | Asthma | Atopy | CSU/CIndU | Years of disease | Frequency of symptoms [days] | Systemic symptoms | SPT [mm] | PT | f340 [kU/l] | Dosages used during OC [mg] | Description of symptoms during OC | Potential culprit food with carmine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | F | U + AE | No | Yes | CSU/CIndU | 4.0 | < 7 | Yes | (3) 5* | Neg | 0.02 | 1-2-2-5-10 | 20 min after 2 mg – itchiness, 4 h after 10 mg – massive U/AE, after 24 h – U/AE | Sweets |
| 2 | 56 | F | U | No | Yes | CSU/CIndU | 7.0 | < 7 | Yes | 0 | Neg | 3.05 | 0.1–0.2–0.5–1–2 | 10 min after 2 mg – urticaria and stomach disturbance | – |
| 3 | 39 | F | U | No | Yes | CSU/CIndU | 1.3 | < 7 | Yes | 0 | Neg | 0 | 1–2–5–10–25–50 | 20 min after 50 mg – massive urticaria, tingling of the tongue | Kebab, pizza |
| 4 | 75 | M | AE | No | Yes | CIndU | 11.0 | 7–30 | Yes | 6 | NT | 0.99 | SPT | 40 min after SPT – oedema of the tongue | Fruit drop Mentos, fruity yoghurt, cold meats |
| 5 | 34 | F | U + AE | No | Yes | CIndU | 9.0 | > 30 | Yes | 4 | Neg | 0.11 | 1–2–5–10–25–50–100–150 | 2 h after 150 mg – massive urticaria | Fruit jelly, some cakes |
| 6 | 32 | M | U + AE | No | No | CIndU | 2.4 | > 30 | No | 0 | Neg | 0 | 1–2–5–10–25–50–100–150 | 3 h after 150 mg – oedema of the mouth | Cold meats |
| 7 | 44 | F | U | Yes | Yes | CIndU | 9.5 | > 30 | Yes | (4) 8† | Neg | 0.16 | 1–2–5–10–25–100 | 10 min after 5 mg – erythema of the neck and face, 10 min after 100 mg – eyelid oedema | Raisins, cranberry |
| 8 | 28 | F | U | Yes | Yes | CIndU | 10.0 | > 30 | Yes | 5 | Neg | 0.11 | 0.1–0.2–0.5–1–2–5 | 10 min after 5 mg – erythema of neckline and itchiness of throat and skin | – |
| 9 | 26 | F | U + AE | No | No | CIndU | 4.5 | > 30 | Yes | 0 | Neg | 0.02 | 1–2–5–10–25–50–100 | 20 min after 100 mg – massive urticaria and dyspnoea | Ready salad, Thai food |
*SPT result after 30 min and 4.5 h, †SPT result after 30 min and 2 h. No. – number of the patient, F – female, M – male, U – urticaria, AE – angioedema, CSU – chronic spontaneous urticaria, CIndU – chronic inducible urticaria, Neg – negative result, NT – not tested, SPT – skin prick test, PT – patch test, f340 – specific IgE for cochineal extract (carmine red) – Phadia, OC – oral challenge test, h – hours.