Influence of sensitization to pollen and food allergens on pollinosis clinical symptoms

Geographic position and local plants of the country influence the profile of sensitization of the population to airborne allergens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitization pattern to pollen and food allergens in adult patients with pollinosis in Lithuania. 101 patients (age 16-63 years) suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis and 23.8% of them also diagnosed with concomitant seasonal asthma were investigated. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) was diagnosed in 29.7% of cases. The sensitization to 21 species of tree-, grass- and weed-pollen and plant food allergens was determined by positive skin prick and prick-prick test. In serum levels of total IgE and timothy and orchard grass specific IgE were determined by immunoenzyme assay. 52.5% of patients suffered from spring-summer pollinosis. 91.2% of patients were sensitized to grass-pollen allergens, 79.3% -to tree pollen-allergens. 74.7% of patients were allergic to weeds. Pollinosis starting in the spring and lasting more than sixteen weeks was associated with increased probability of OAS (OR=7.1, p