Allergy and intolerance
IgE antilichamen selderij
Antibodies against celery protein; shows whether the immune system is sensitive to celery, not whether you get symptoms from it.
Everything about this testWhat it measures
Celery comes as leaf celery, stalk celery and celeriac and is eaten raw, cooked and dried as a spice. It is often hidden in herb and spice mixes; celery must be listed as an allergen on food packaging. Unlike with many fruits, the allergen survives heating, so cooked celery can also cause symptoms. This test measures the amount of IgE antibodies against the proteins in celery in the blood, in kU/l. The body only makes these antibodies after it has previously been in contact with the allergen; this is called sensitization.
- Sensitization to celery: the body has made IgE antibodies against celery
- Support in working out a suspected allergy to celery, together with the history of the symptoms
- A possible explanation for symptoms after eating celery in people with hay fever from birch or mugwort pollen
High
A value above the cut-off means that you have IgE antibodies against celery: sensitization. That is not the same as an allergy. According to Stichting Voedselallergie, celery allergy often goes together with an allergy to birch pollen and mugwort pollen, the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome, and there are cross-reactions with spices such as anise, cumin, coriander, pepper and parsley. Symptoms can stay limited to itching in the mouth, but celery causes severe reactions more often than other vegetables. In case of doubt, an allergist can have antibodies against individual celery proteins measured; according to the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS), this sometimes finds more allergies than this test. The level of the value says little about how severe a reaction would be.
Low
A value below the cut-off means that no IgE antibodies against this allergen were found. An IgE-mediated allergy to this allergen is then much less likely, although it is not completely ruled out. Symptoms can also come from another allergen that was not tested, or have a non-allergic cause.
If your result is abnormal
The GP mainly looks at the history: which symptoms, when and where they occur and after contact with what. With a positive result and matching symptoms, advice usually follows to limit contact with the allergen and, if needed, medication. With a severe reaction, in case of doubt or with symptoms that are not brought under control this way, a referral to an allergist, pediatrician, ENT specialist or lung specialist may follow.
Reliability
A positive IgE result shows sensitization, not allergy: it only says that there are antibodies, not that you get symptoms from them. The Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS) on upper airway allergy says this literally and recommends choosing a test for single allergens based on the history of the symptoms; for food allergy, the FMS guideline on food challenge testing calls the history of the symptoms the cornerstone of diagnosis and a food challenge in hospital the gold standard. The result therefore only means something if it fits when, where and after contact with what you get symptoms. A positive result without symptoms is not treated.
Limitations
- Sensitization without symptoms is common; the result can only be interpreted together with the history of the symptoms.
- Related allergens can recognize each other's antibodies (cross-reaction), for example pollen and nuts or fruit; a positive result then does not mean that this particular allergen causes the symptoms.
- The test measures all proteins from the allergen source together; testing for individual proteins (components) can say more in case of doubt.
- Laboratories use different measurement methods and cut-off values; results from different labs cannot be compared one to one.
How common is this
How often celery allergy occurs in the Netherlands is not known. Stichting Voedselallergie mentions about 0.45 in 100 people in Europe, based on the German Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
Who is this useful for
Useful with a clear reaction shortly after eating celery or a dish with an herb or spice mix, such as hives, swelling, abdominal symptoms or shortness of breath. With only mild itching in the mouth after raw celery in someone with hay fever, no testing is needed, according to Thuisarts.nl. In people who eat celery normally without symptoms, the test adds nothing.
Sources
- NVKC, allesovertesten.nl: Allergie (RAST)
- FMS Richtlijnendatabase: Allergie van de bovenste luchtwegen, module Aanvullende diagnostiek
- FMS Richtlijnendatabase: Voedselprovocatie, module Plaatsbepaling diagnostiek voedselallergie
- Thuisarts.nl: Ik heb allergie
- NHG-Standaard Voedselovergevoeligheid en coeliakie (M47)
- Stichting Voedselallergie: Selderij
- Thuisarts.nl: Ik krijg jeuk of een branderig gevoel in mijn mond of keel door sommige groenten, fruit of noten
Always discuss an abnormal result with your GP. If a result is strongly abnormal, we try to reach you as soon as possible. Read your result yourself as well and contact your GP if in doubt. A test does not make a diagnosis. Read more about risks and results