Serious Nut Allergy Transmitted Through Liver Transplant

An Australian man who received a liver transplant developed a life-threatening nut allergy apparently transmitted through the donated organ, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The liver donor was a 15-year-old boy who had died of an allegric reaction to peanuts. While his organs were donated to four different patients, only the recipient of the liver acquired the nut allergy.

While the transfer of an allergy from donor to recipient appears rare, the Australian researchers suggested that all organ donors be screened for allergies and all transplant patients warned to take precautions.

Nut allergies affect an estimated 3 million Americans.

In the Australian case, a day after the recipient of the liver was sent home from the hospital, the 60-year-old man developed a severe allergic reaction after eating cashews.

He was taken to a hospital where tests confirmed an allergy to cashews, peanuts and sesame seeds. The patient was sent home with an epinephrine shot to self-inject in case of a future allergic reaction. He had to use the shot 32 weeks after his transplant when he was accidentally exposed to peanuts.

Two years following his liver transplant, the patient died from complications related to the original liver tumor.

Other sources: Archives of Internal Medicine