The frequency of positive skin prick tests with plant pollen allergens and pollen fall in the Lublin area

Teresa Stelmasiak¹, Zofia Bartnik¹, Elzbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska², Irena Pidek³, Grzegorz Adamiak⁴, Piotr Rapiejko⁵

1. Allergy Clinic, Lublin, Poland
2. Department of Botany, University School of Agriculture, Lublin, Poland
3. Institute of Earth Science, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
4. Department of Otolaryngology, Military Medical School of Warsaw, Poland
5. Allergen Research Center, Warsaw, Poland

Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, pages 51-52.

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Po Polsku

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between positive skin prick tests with the plant pollen allergens and plant pollen fall in the Lublin area.

Materials and Methods

The results of skin prick tests performed in 7300 patients of Allergy Clinic in Lublin were analysed. The study was carried out from 1991 till 1995. Annual pollen fall in Lublin area was also analysed. The studies were performed in the years 1991-1995 with the use of Durham sampler. Additionally, from April till September a volumetric spore trap VST-2 was used.

Results

Table 1. Palynological study results

Pollen	% of all pollen grains
Grasses	9.47
Mugwort, Goosfoot, Nettle, Plantain, Sorrel, Dandelion	15.26
Alder, Birch, Hazel, Poplar, Willow, Linden	37.82

Positive results of skin prick tests with plant pollen allergens were found in 1818 patients out of 7300 examined in Allergy Clinic in Lublin. The majority of 1818 positive patients were allergic to pollen of different plant species. The results of skin tests are presented in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2. Results of skin tests (a)

Allergen	Positive results
Grasses	1756
Mugwort, Goosfoot, Nettle, Plantain, Sorrel, Dandelion	1510
Alder, Birch, Hazel, Poplar, Willow, Linden	1116

Table 3. Results of skin tests (b)

Allergen	Number of patients with positive skin prick tests
Grasses + weeds + trees	1006
Grasses + weeds	452
Grasses + trees	66
Weeds + trees	34
Grasses	232
Weeds	18
Trees	10

Conclusion

The correlation between pollen fall and frequency of positive skin tests with pollen allergens was not observed. Allergy to tree pollen allergens exclusively was very seldom though tree pollens constitute 37.82% of total pollen fall in the Lublin area. Allergy to grass pollen allergens prevailed though grass pollen grains made only 9.47% of all pollen grains. Allergy to pollen of many different plants was more frequent, than to only one plant species.

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