Diagnostic Efficacy By Skin Prick Test with Allergenic Extracts of Legumes in Cuban Patients

Background: In many countries legumes are a very common basic food. Immediate hypersensitivity to legumes is increasing worldwide. Allergenic extracts with proper diagnostic efficacy and safety are required for performing skin prick tests (SPT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of locally manufactured legume extracts (peanut, soy and black bean) by means of the SPT in Cuban patients. Methods: A study was carried in thirty seven patients with immediate clinical history to peanut, soy and/or black bean that attended the Allergy Service at the Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras in Havana between 2010 and 2011. SPT was performed with extracts of raw soy, raw and cooked black bean (at 2,5mg/ml protein content) and raw and roasted peanut (0,5mg/ml) prepared by the National Center of Bioproducts (BIOCEN, Cuba). It was carried a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to 20 patients, using progressively growing doses. Results: Using a wheal diameter of 3 mm as cutoff value, the SPT showed a diagnostic efficacy of 73.0% (soy), 70.3% (raw black bean), 81.1% (cooked black bean), 67.6% (raw peanut) and 75.7% (roasted peanut) taking as a reference of the disease the clinical history. As compared to DBPCFC, the SPT for soy and peanut had sensitivity of 100% and for the bean, of 67%. There were not serious reactions. Conclusions: The allergenic extracts used for SPT are effective and safe for the diagnosis of food allergy. The methodology for the DBPCFCs is safe, but it is recommended to increase the maximum dose.