Allergy to castor bean in The Sudan: measurement of serum IgE and specific IgE antibodies

Abstract

Allergy to castor bean was diagnosed in thirty-nine dockworkers from Port Sudan, on the basis of rhinitis and/or asthma provoked by castor bean dust, together with a positive prick test to a high dilution of castor bean extract. These were compared to twelve non-allergic dockworkers from Port Sudan and forty-three other Port Sudan residents. The castor bean allergic group had significantly higher IgE levels (mean 902 iu/ml) than the non-allergic dock workers (mean 245 iu/ml) or the Port Sudan residents (mean 404 iu/ml) PAscaris lumbricoides) prevented sensitization to castor bean or any other allergen. There was a higher incidence of IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in the castor bean-allergic dockworkers (18/36) than in the non-allergic Port Sudan residents (5/43), although we were unable to show that sensitivity to other inhalant allergens pre-disposed to castor bean allergy.