Background: The transfer of peanut allergy has been reported following solid organ transplantation.
Objective: Present a case of peanut sensitization following combined pancreas-and-kidney transplantation.
Methods: Circulating specific IgE against peanut were measured in serum samples collected from the transplant recipient 1 month before transplantation, and 1, 3 and 6 months after transplantation. Skin tests were performed 1, 3 and 6 months following transplant.
Results: The organ recipient's pre-transplant peanut IgE levels were negative. At 1 month post-transplant, the patient had a 6 mm skin test to peanut and had serum IgE to peanut Arah1 of 0.79 kU/L. At 3 months, skin test size and IgE to peanut Arah1 decreased to 4 mm, and 0.69 kU/L respectively. At 6 months, the patient's skin test and IgE to peanuts were negative. At that time, the patient underwent a peanut food challenge without a clinical reaction to suggest allergy.
Conclusion and clinical relevance: We report the development of IgE peanut sensitization in a recipient of a combined pancreas and kidney transplantation. Increasing awareness of this allergen sensitization following transplantation may help prevent serious allergic reactions in transplant recipients.
Keywords: IgE; anaphylaxis; peanut allergy; peanut sensitization; post-transplant associated food allergies (PAFA); skin prick testing; transplant.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.