HEMP ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Hemp is a weed of the family
Cannabinaceae that produces flowers, leaves and seeds. Hemp seeds are added to cereals, granola and pressed to produce oil.
There are 4 airway allergens associated with hemp allergy.
Can s 2 is a
profilin protein, this is a panallergen causing allergies in multiple plants.
Can s 3 is a
lipid transfer protein (LTP). This is another common panallergen which has been known to cause serious allergic reactions.
Can s 5 is a pathogenesis related protein, these proteins are also known as
Bet v 1 proteins as they affect people already sensitised to birch tree pollen.
Associated Syndromes
Cross Reactivity
Other plants containing profilin inhalant allergens are ragweed, wormwood, birch, sunflower, olive, plantain, poplar and oak. Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
Other plants containing inhalant LTP allergens are wormwood, mugwort and plane. Foods containing LTP include kiwi, strawberry, sunflower, walnut, apple, mulberry, pea, apricot, cabbage, peanut, chestnut, celery, lemon tangerine, orange, lettuce, lentil, lupin, mustard, cherry, plum, almond, peach, pomegranate, raspberry, tomato and grape.
Other Bet v 1 pollens are alder, birch, chestnut, hazel, beech, olive and oak.
Resources
Websites
Side Effects of Hemp Protein
Can you be allergic to marijuana?
Allergic Reaction to Hemp: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Articles and Journals
Production, digestibility and allergenicity of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein isolates, 2019
Exploring the Diagnosis and Profile of Cannabis Allergy, 2019
Cannabis allergy: what the clinician needs to know, 2019
Case Series of 5 Patients with Anaphylaxis to Hemp Seed Ingestion, 2016
Cannabis sativa allergy: looking through the fog, 2016
Anaphylaxis to ingestion of hempseed (Cannabis sativa), 2003
Cannabis (hemp) positive skin tests and respiratory symptoms, 2000
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