IgE-mediated food allergy can manifest with reactions ranging from hives to anaphylactic shock. The diagnosis is based on the confirmation of sensitization to the food allergen by skin tests (prick) and the determination of specific IgE directed against the food source and molecular allergens. The gold standard remains the oral provocation test, which is performed in a hospital environment. Once the diagnosis is made, an elimination diet is still considered as the cornerstone of treatment for most food allergies.

While some allergies, such as cow's milk or egg, tend to resolve spontaneously, others, such as allergy to pecan nuts, show a tendency to be persistent. In addition, pecan allergy is often characterized by potentially serious clinical reactions, compared to other foods, which can even be life threatening. In our clinical practice, the investigators found that patients with allergies to pecan nuts often present with severe hypersensitivity reactions when challenged orally to this food. Beyond this information, there are few studies regarding pecans. The investigators decided to retrospectively evaluate the results of oral food challenge and of the allergy work-up in our patients sensitized and allergic to pecan nuts, to better understand the current epidemiology of such food allergy.

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients assessed for pecan allergy, through oral food challenge, from January 2000 to december 2021, at the University Hospital of Montpellier
• Patients with a positive skin prick test and/or positive specific IgE to pecan nut

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients not affiliated to French Social Security
• Patients not capable of understanding French
• Patients sensitized to pecan nut, who did not perform an oral food challenge to this food allergen

Patients consulting in the Allergy Unit of the Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, sensitized to pecan nut, and having undergone an oral food challenge to this food allergen

NC