Adverse Reactions to Octopus
Damiani et al report on the case of a forty three year old woman who experienced adverse reactions after eating octopus. The first episode resulted in swelling of the lips and gums after eating raw octopus. Two months later, she experienced generalized urticaria and a fainting fit within thirty minutes after eating raw and boiled octopus.
Testing to confirm the cause were not immediately straightforward as the skin prick tests with commercial extract of octopus and RAST were negative. Serum tests confirmed that the reactions were to octopus. The authors conclude that the negative results could be explained by the probable absence of the 22-kDa protein in commercial extract and RAST substrate.
Damiani E, Aloia AM, Priore MG, Nardulli S, Nettis E, Ferrannini A.
Adverse reaction after ingestion of raw and boiled Octopus vulgaris.
Allergy 2010 Feb;65(2):275-6.