Suspected tartrazine-induced acute urticaria/angioedema is only rarely reproducible by oral rechallenge.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tartrazine has been frequently linked to several diseases. However, a cause-and-effect role for tartrazine in these illnesses, especially in urticaria, has not always been established.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of intolerance to tartrazine among subjects who experienced an acute episode of urticaria/angioedema following the ingestion of a meal or a product containing this substance.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective study based on analysis of data of patients reported to have experienced episodes of urticaria and/or angioedema after ingesting meals or products containing tartrazine. At the first visit to the outpatients clinic, a careful anamnesis had been taken. Patients had then been submitted to the following diagnostic tests: IgE tests to common inhalant allergens and food allergens and a double-blind placebo-controlled challenge with tartrazine.

RESULTS:

A total of 102 subjects were enrolled in the study: 19 (18.6%) showed at least one relevant positive reaction to an IgE test for food allergy. Only one subject (1%) had reactions after ingestion of 5 mg of tartrazine, given on day 5. She did not have adverse reactions to placebo.

CONCLUSION:

This study shows that the percentage of acute urticaria and/or angioedema induced by tartrazine is very low (1%). In view of our results, we suggest that all physicians with patients who have suffered adverse reactions that could be attributed to tartrazine should also carefully evaluate other possible causes.

• Authors: E Nettis, M C Colanardi, A Ferrannini, A Tursi
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 33 Issue 12 Pg. 1725-9 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 14656361 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Food Coloring Agents
• Immunoglobulin E
• Tartrazine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Allergens (toxicity)
• Angioedema (chemically induced)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Female
• Food Coloring Agents (toxicity)
• Food Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Skin Tests
• Tartrazine (toxicity)
• Urticaria (chemically induced)