Lack of Correlation Between Regional Pollen Counts and Percutaneous Reactivity to Tree Pollen Extracts in Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bernstein DI ; Biagini, Raymond E. ; Levin L ; Murphy K ; St Clair HG ; Villareal M ; Wellinghoff L ; White JF
• Description:
  Background: Although seasonal patterns of tree pollination have been reported, it is unknown if aerobiologic data correlate with patterns of in vivo sensitization. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between regional tree pollen exposure and patterns of in vivo percutaneous reactivity to specific tree pollen extracts in a local patient population with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Methods: Patients with spring seasonal allergic rhinitis and percutaneous sensitivity to 1 or more regional tree pollens were studied. Tree pollen counts were collected at the same urban site from 1997 to 2002 and at a suburban site in 2002. Patients underwent skin prick testing with commercial extracts of 15 indigenous tree species. Serum specific IgE measurements were assayed in a subset of sensitized patients. Results: Of 127 patients who reported symptoms consistent with seasonal allergic rhinitis during the spring pollen season, 93 qualified based on demonstration of at least 1 positive skin prick test result. Mean 5-year pollen counts (1997-2001) and 2002 urban counts were highly correlated (Spearman r = 0.95, P <.001), indicating that year-to-year pollen counts were consistent. No significant correlation was found between mean seasonal pollen counts (urban site, 1997-2001) and frequencies of skin prick test reactivity to specific tree pollen allergens (Spearman r = -0.03, P =.93). No significant relationship was found between 5-year mean tree pollen counts and positive serum specific IgE tests for specific tree pollens (Spearman r = -0.42, P =.30). Eight of 15 species elicited percutaneous reactions in more than 50% of patients (ie, satisfying definition of a major in vivo allergen). However, 6 of the 8 major tree allergens each represented 5% or less of 5-year mean total tree pollen counts. Conclusion: No correlation was found between overall frequencies of in vivo sensitization to tree pollen allergens in a local population and regional pollen exposure data. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hypersensitivity Immune System Irritants Occupational Health Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  Allergens Allergic-reactions Allergies Immunological-tests Immunology Respiratory-irritants Skin-exposure Skin-irritants Skin-tests
• ISSN:
  1081-1206
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  240-246
• Volume:
  94
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026205
• Citation:
  Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2005 Feb; 94(2):240-246
• Contact Point Address:
  DI Bernstein, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine0, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:51adf764e69358ae03dcd0e7c9206f4b69262033dd394e4082415354adf4db74dff5708c4e6edbbd6cca1dc1cb917f905af838bb9b369cae3e74c516a0ec39d4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197238/cdc_197238_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 185.42 KB ]