Abstract

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) is a rare syndrome characterized by giant urticaria, angioedema and itching that develops with some sort of physical exercise. It may be associated with gastrointestinal and/or respiratory symptoms and in the most severe forms with hypotension, cardio-circulatory collapse and syncope. A particular form of EIAn is that defined as post-prandial ELIAn (PPEIAn) in which the anaphylactic reaciton is provoked by the presence of two conditions at the same time: ingestion of a food to which the patient has become sensitized followed by exercise. This syndrome is considered a parsticular form of food allergy. The pathogenesis of PPEIAn is still unknown. However, in the majority of cases the allergological investigations (RAST and skin tests) show positivity for one or more foods ingested before exercise. Skin tests (prick test), however, have to be performed not only with common commercial extracts but also with fresh foods (prick by prick test). Since EIAn and PPEIAn may represent a serious obstacle for sport activity early diagnosis and adequate therapeutic management are mandatory. Sport physicians should consider the possibility of EIAn or PPEIAn in all cases of inexplicable acute cardio-circulatory insufficiency during sports activity, expecially occurring in the post-prandial period. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)