Susann Forkel1, Caroline Beutner2, Anne Heetfeld2, Thomas Fuchs2, Michael P Schön2,3, Johannes Geier4,3, Timo Buhl2,3. 1. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, susann.forkel@med.uni-goettingen.de. 2. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 3. Lower Saxony Institute of Occupational Dermatology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 4. Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In contrast to the 3 major aeroallergens tree pollen, grass pollen, and house dust mites, allergic rhinitis caused by herbal pollen has received comparatively little attention in recent clinical studies. Since various weeds flower during summer until fall, allergic rhinitis to weeds may be underdiagnosed and/or mistakenly diagnosed as grass pollen allergy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate (i) the currently most frequent weed allergy between mugwort, ragweed, plantain, chamomile, nettle, and oilseed rape and (ii) time trends in prevalence of sensitization to weed pollen in the middle of Germany over the last 20 years. METHODS: This study, the largest of its kind to date, monocentrically evaluated the prick test results of a total of 6,220 patients with suspected RCA over a period of 20 years (1998-2017). RESULTS: In the study cohort, sensitization rates to plantain almost doubled from 26.6% in the decade 1998-2007 to 50.5% in 2008-2017. Identical increases were observed for ragweed, while sensitization rates for mugwort stayed largely unchanged. The most prominent increase in positive skin prick tests to plantain and ragweed pollen was mainly observed in younger patients. Further, we identified a trend toward polysensitization, currently dominated by plantain and ragweed. Sensitization to weed pollen was found to be highly associated with additional sensitizations to grass and/or birch pollen. CONCLUSION: Plantain is currently the best choice to screen rhinitis patients for weed allergy which identifies 86% of all weed-sensitized individuals, at least in Germany. Over the last 20 years, we demonstrate a significant rise in the total number of weed pollen sensitization as well as increases in polysensitization, predominantly in younger patients.
BACKGROUND: In contrast to the 3 major aeroallergens tree pollen, grass pollen, and house dust mites, allergic rhinitis caused by herbal pollen has received comparatively little attention in recent clinical studies. Since various weeds flower during summer until fall, allergic rhinitis to weeds may be underdiagnosed and/or mistakenly diagnosed as grass pollen allergy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate (i) the currently most frequent weed allergy between mugwort, ragweed, plantain, chamomile, nettle, and oilseed rape and (ii) time trends in prevalence of sensitization to weed pollen in the middle of Germany over the last 20 years. METHODS: This study, the largest of its kind to date, monocentrically evaluated the prick test results of a total of 6,220 patients with suspected RCA over a period of 20 years (1998-2017). RESULTS: In the study cohort, sensitization rates to plantain almost doubled from 26.6% in the decade 1998-2007 to 50.5% in 2008-2017. Identical increases were observed for ragweed, while sensitization rates for mugwort stayed largely unchanged. The most prominent increase in positive skin prick tests to plantain and ragweed pollen was mainly observed in younger patients. Further, we identified a trend toward polysensitization, currently dominated by plantain and ragweed. Sensitization to weed pollen was found to be highly associated with additional sensitizations to grass and/or birch pollen. CONCLUSION:Plantain is currently the best choice to screen rhinitispatients for weed allergy which identifies 86% of all weed-sensitized individuals, at least in Germany. Over the last 20 years, we demonstrate a significant rise in the total number of weed pollen sensitization as well as increases in polysensitization, predominantly in younger patients.
Authors: Susann Forkel; Caroline Beutner; Silke S Schröder; Oliver Bader; Sidhi Gupta; Thomas Fuchs; Michael P Schön; Johannes Geier; Timo Buhl Journal: Int Arch Allergy Immunol Date: 2021-03-29 Impact factor: 2.749
Authors: Svetlana V Guryanova; Ekaterina I Finkina; Daria N Melnikova; Ivan V Bogdanov; Barbara Bohle; Tatiana V Ovchinnikova Journal: Front Mol Biosci Date: 2022-06-16
Authors: Caroline Beutner; Susann Forkel; Sidhi Gupta; Thomas Fuchs; Michael P Schön; Johannes Geier; Timo Buhl Journal: J Asthma Allergy Date: 2020-12-24
Authors: Yorissa Padayachee; Sabine Flicker; Sophia Linton; John Cafferkey; Onn Min Kon; Sebastian L Johnston; Anne K Ellis; Martin Desrosiers; Paul Turner; Rudolf Valenta; Glenis Kathleen Scadding Journal: Front Allergy Date: 2021-07-01