Journal of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology  1998;18(3):518-523

Intravaginal desensitization in a woman with seminal fluid allergy.

Jun Gu LEE ; Shi Hwan KO ; Jung Sik SONG ; Jae Ha HWANG ; Yong Han PARK ; Yoon Soo JANG ; Dae Jung KIM ; Sang Wook BAE ; Jung Woon PARK ; Chein Soo HONG

Keywords

seminal fluid hypersensitivity; intravaginal desensitization

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Human seminal fiuid (HSP) hypersensitivity is rare, but possibly a life-threatening disease. The pathogenesis of seminal plasma hypersensitivity and the exact nature of the HSP allergens remains to be clarified. We report a case of 25-year-old female patient who complained of severe itching sensation, flushing and edema of external genitalia, facial edema and dyspnea after sexual intercourse. The diagnosis was established by skin pr ick test with her husbands diluted semen. Intravaginal desensitization was performed by modified Matloffs method. Dilutions was made with sterile human serum albumin(0.2%) and 0.4% pheno1-0.9% saline solution. Two ml each of progressively greater concentrations of semen dilutions(1: 100,000 v/v, 1: 10,000 v/ v, 1:1,000 v/v, 1:100 v/v, 1:10 v/v) were inserted intravaginally at 45-min intervals, followed by an undiluted specimen. The patient was successfully desensitized and could have unprotected intercourse without anaphylaxis.