Po PolskuE.N.T. Allergy Clinic, Medical School, Warsaw, Poland
Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, page 49.
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The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between the amount of pollen in the atmosphere and the frequency of the positive skin-test reactions in patients with upper-airways hypersensitivity.
The correlation between the amount of the selected twelve species of plant pollen and the total amount of anemophilous plant pollen in the atmosphere of Warsaw and its vicinity was determined using the volumetric method. The study also involved 47 epidermal tests performed on 680 patients hypersensitive to inhalatory allergens.
Table 1 demonstrates the relevant study data (Warsaw 1994, volumetric method, VST-1).
Plant |
Sensitization (%) |
Pollen grains 1994 (%) |
Plant pollen grain in the group examined (%) |
alder |
7.5 |
6.10 |
15.09 |
ambrosia |
4.6 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
ash |
3.7 |
1.10 |
2.72 |
birch |
12.6 |
14.2 |
35.14 |
golden rod |
9.6 |
0.15 |
0.37 |
hazel |
6.0 |
0.90 |
2.22 |
linden-tree |
1.2 |
0.10 |
0.24 |
maple |
1.8 |
0.35 |
0.86 |
poplar |
7.2 |
6.50 |
10.08 |
willow |
2.2 |
1.30 |
3.21 |
grasses |
12.2 |
9.70 |
24.00 |
- including cereals |
51.8 |
1.70 |
4.20 |
- % in grasses |
|
18.0 |
|
The palynological study has shown lack of correlation between positive skin-test reactions and the amount of pollen as well as a small percentage of the most frequent offenders, pollens of grasses (and cereals). Simultaneously, pollens of trees typically found in the area of Warsaw have proved to be relatively rare offenders. The following factors seem to be important:
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