1998/02/01 by Raymond J Mullins · 7 citations
Medicine · #Herbal Medicine Research Studies #Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies #Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization #Atopy #Echinacea (animal) #Anaphylaxis #Medicine #Allergy #Ingestion #Immunoglobulin E #Immunology #Dermatology #Traditional medicine #Internal medicine #Antibody
paper · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb126773.x
openalex publication_date 1998/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
A woman with atopy experienced anaphylaxis after taking, among other dietary supplements, a commercial extract of echinacea. Hypersensitivity was confirmed by skinprick and RAST testing. Regular ingestion of echinacea by up to 5% of surveyed patients with atopy, combined with detection of echinacea-binding IgE in atopic subjects (19% by skin testing; 20% with moderate to strong reactivity by RAST testing), raises the possibility of severe allergic reactions, even with first-time use, due to cross-reactivity with other structurally similar allergens. Patients with atopy should be cautioned about the risk of developing life-threatening reactions to complementary medicines, including echinacea.