Angioedema due to type I allergy to snuff tobacco.

A 67-year-old male patient twice developed severe angioedema after enjoying a meal and an after-dinner snuff. The cause for these allergic reactions was a type I allergy to tobacco contained in the snuff. In addition to positive prick tests to tobacco, specific serum IgE antibodies (CAP-FEIA) to snuff were found, while prick tests and RASTs for suspected foods were negative. Tobacco belongs to the family Solanaceae which includes tomatoes and potatoes and comes from South America. Whenever allergic reactions together with tobacco snuff use occur, a possible type I allergy should be considered and investigated.