Case Report: A family history of peanut allergy and hereditary alpha-tryptasemia

Front Allergy. 2024 Jan 23:4:1322117. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1322117. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Context: Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) is associated with elevated basal serum tryptase (bST) and is associated with a higher risk of severe anaphylactic reactions in patients with clonal mast cell disorders or IgE-mediated Hymenoptera venom-induced anaphylaxis. The consequence of this genetic trait remains to be determined in other allergic diseases and food allergy in particular.

Objectives: Here, we describe three cases of peanut allergy among siblings from a single family of four: two of them were associated with HαT, and the third one was associated with the tryptase wild-type genotype.

Methods: TPSAB1/TPSB2 genotypes were determined by digital PCR. After the case description, we provided a review of the literature regarding bST levels and tryptase genotypes in anaphylaxis, with a particular focus on food allergy.

Results: Compared to the sibling with the conventional tryptase genotype, the two siblings with HαT presented a lower peanut threshold at the initial oral food challenge, higher peanut skin prick test reactivity, higher levels of specific IgE to peanut, Ara h 2, and Ara h 6, and a lower IgG4/IgE ratio after 10 years of oral immunotherapy.

Conclusion: The tryptase genotype and HαT status might modify the clinical presentation and biological features of food allergy.

Keywords: anaphylaxis; case report; food allergy; hereditary alpha-tryptasemia; tryptase.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

The authors declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.