An epidemiological survey on the allergological importance of some emerging pollens in Italy
Corsico, R.; Falagiani, P.; Ariano, R.; Berra, D.; Biale, C.; Bonifazi, F.; Campi, P.; Feliziani, V.; Frenguelli, G.; Galimberti, M.; Gallesio, M.T.; Liccardi, G.; Loreti, A.; Marcer, G.; Marcucci, F.; Meriggi, A.; Minelli, M.; Nardelli, R.; Nardi, G.; Negrini, C.A.; Papa, G.; Piu, G.; Pozzan, M.; D'Ambrosio, F.P.; Riva, G.
Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology 10(3): 155-161
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1018-9068 PMID: 10923590 Document Number: 519723
Epidemiological studies on the pollens responsible for allergic diseases throughout Italy are lacking. Routine diagnostic panels consist prevalently of grass [Poaceae], Parietaria judaica, weeds, birch (Betula alba), olive (Olea europaea) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Considering the great variety of Italian geographical areas and the observation of the growing allergological importance of new botanical species (e.g., ambrosia), a survey on pollen species considered 'minor' was necessary. A panel of 'emerging' pollens (birch (Betula alba), hazelnut (Corylus avellana), alder (Alnus incana), horn-beam (Ostrya carpinifolia), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and ragweed (A. artemisiifolia)) and a routine panel were used to skin prick test 2934 consecutive outpatients with respiratory pathology of suspected allergic origin, in 21 centres across Italy. A specific questionnaire was compiled. It was found that 20.1% of patients did not react to allergens tested, 28.2% were positive for at least one emerging pollen and 51.7% did not react to emerging pollens but tested positive for at least one allergen from the routine panel. The prevalence of single pollen species was related to geographical areas. Ragweed pollen was shown to provoke asthma much more frequently than other pollens. Hitherto scarcely considered pollens play a considerable role in causing allergic diseases in Italy. In the great majority of patients, positivity for these pollens was associated with positivity to the better recognized group of pollen allergens, although in some cases they were the primary pathogenic agent. We suggest that these more recently considered allergens be included in routine diagnostic panels.