Odyssee einer Patientin mit Wheat-dependent exercise-induced Anaphylaxis (WDEIA)

Cofactor-dependent food allergies can lead to severe anaphylactic reactions. Often, a long time passes until the correct diagnosis is made. We report on a 28-year-old female patient who suffered about 35 anaphylactic reactions over four years, leading to resuscitation in three episodes. Over the years, numerous and cost-intensive medical visits did not lead to any diagnosis. The reactions led to a heavy physical and especially psychological burden for the patient, who increasingly socially isolated, changed her study course and developed post-traumatic stress disorder. In a comprehensive allergological examination (exact anamnesis, detection of a sensitisation against ω-5-gliadin, positive skin prick test against gluten and other wheat allergen fractions) including a positive challenge test, the diagnosis of wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) could finally be made. With the help of individual dietary counselling, the patient was able to avoid further reactions. In the future, the possibility of sub-lingual immunotherapy could represent a novel outlook for WDEIA patients.