Buckwheat Allergy: An Emerging Clinical Problem in Europe

Abstract

Buckwheat allergy is a clinical entity known since long time ago and frequent in Asia, where this crop is commonly eaten. In Europe, buckwheat allergy was an anedoctical description since few years ago, when the consumption of buckwheat dramatically increased together with the publication of case reports and case series of European patients with buckwheat allergy. This review article describes and analyzes the history of buckwheat allergy, its clinical presentation, its increase in European countries during the last few years, and summarizes the main case reports, case series and epidemiological surveys on buckwheat allergy. A summary of main buckwheat allergens and clinical relevant cross-reactivity are also described and discussed.