The most prevalent allergenic airborne pollens among Egyptian patients with respiratory allergy

Abstract Background Allergy symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to environmental allergens, such as pollen or dust, which are typically harmless to most individuals but induce a potentially severe reaction to those who are sensitive to them. Pollen is one of the main reasons to cause seasonal allergic respiratory diseases and it is influenced by multiple risk factors. Objective To determine the most prevalent types of allergenic pollens by skin prick testing among Egyptian patients with respiratory allergy (asthma and/or allergic rhinitis). Methods 200 adult patients, all were subjected to the following: full detailed medical history, clinical examination, asthma severity grading according to the GINA Guidelines, allergic rhinitis severity grading according to ARIA Guidelines, pulmonary Function tests for asthmatic patients. (PFTs), CBC with differential for detection of eosinophilic count, Skin prick testing (SPT) to common environmental allergens and common food allergen. Results The present study proved that the grass pollens; timothy grass and maize were the most prevalent pollens among Egyptian respiratory allergy patients. Conclusion Difference in results of SPT performed to patients across different countries is explained by the difference in climates, which affects pollination, Egypt is considered to have a dry, desert-like climate in addition to its coastal regions. Our results revealed that both timothy grass and maize pollens were the most prevalent among Egyptian respiratory allergy patients.

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Pollen Sensitization in Association with Allergic Rhinitis in preschool asthmatic Children

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab113.025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Elham M Hossny ◽

Hanan M Abd El-Lateef ◽

Hadeer FM Salama

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Grass Pollen ◽

Skin Prick Testing ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Negative Control ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Timothy Grass ◽

Timothy Grass Pollen

Abstract Background Grass pollens are significant elicitors of IgE-mediated allergic disease in the world and timothy grass (Phleum pratense) is an important pollen in allergy induction. Objective We sought to determine the rate of pollen sensitization in group of Egyptian asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis using timothy grass pollen as a potential triggering factor for allergic rhinitis. Patients and Methods This analytical cross sectional study was conducted on a group of preschool children following up at the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University during the period from December 2018 to April 2019. We enrolled 52 asthmatic children with concomitant allergic rhinitis sampled in a consecutive manner. They were subjected to skin prick testing for timothy grass pollen, positive histamine control and negative control. Results The study revealed high frequency of timothy grass pollen(TGP) sensitization occurring in 60.3% of patients with concomitant allergic rhinitis .wheal diameters pointed to sensitization only rather than actual allergy to TGP. TGP sensitization showed no significant correlation to disease duration. Children with rhinosinsuitis had comparable rates of TGP sensitization to those without rhinosinsuitis. Conclusion It is concluded from our results that sensitization to timothy grass pollen (TGP) is common in allergic rhinitis. The findings are limited by the sample size and consecutive manner of sampling. Wider scale studies are needed to accurately evaluate the frequency of timothy grass pollen (TGP) sensitization in our country.

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Cross-reactivity in Skin Prick Test Results of Members Within Pooideae Subfamily

OTO Open ◽

10.1177/2473974x20986569 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 2473974X2098656

Author(s):

Brette C. Harding ◽

Brian P. Kinealy ◽

Christine B. Franzese

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Skin Prick Test ◽

Skin Prick Testing ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Positive Skin Prick Test ◽

Test Results ◽

Positive Skin ◽

Prick Test ◽

Timothy Grass ◽

Representative Member

Objective Molecular similarities of grass pollen antigens have led to the view that cross-reactivity exists within members of the Pooideae subfamily of grasses. This has resulted in testing for only the most antigenically representative member of Pooideae, Timothy grass ( Phleum pratense), despite little literature to support the claim that Phleum is the most representative member or that in vitro cross-reactivity correlates with in vivo cross-reactivity. The aim of the study was to determine if patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms and positive skin prick test results to meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis) also have positive results to Timothy grass. Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary care center in middle Missouri. Methods A retrospective chart review identified patients ≥12 years old with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis who underwent skin prick testing between March 2016 and July 2018, by using a search with CPT code 95004 ( Current Procedural Terminology). Positive skin prick test results were based on wheal produced ≥3 mm than the negative control. Results After review of 2182 charts, 1587 patients met criteria to test for Phleum and Festuca. In total, 1239 patients had a positive result for Phleum or Festuca. Of these, 479 (38.6%) tested positive for Festuca alone, while 342 (27.6%) and 418 (33.7%) tested positive for Phleum alone and Phleum+ Festuca, respectively. Conclusion Clinical cross-reactivity among Pooideae members may not be as complete as traditionally thought. P pratense may not be the most antigenically representative subfamily member, and other grasses may need to be included in skin prick testing.

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Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Severity

Allergy & Clinical Immunology International - Journal of the World Allergy Organization ◽

10.1027/0838-1925.16.1.15 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 16 (01) ◽

pp. 15-19

Author(s):

Girish Vitalpur ◽

Cleveland Moore ◽

Raghubir Mangat ◽

Raja Mouallem ◽

Mosanda Mvula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Asthma Severity

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Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: the Most Important Respiratory Allergy

Medical Clinics of North America ◽

10.1016/s0025-7125(16)35753-4 ◽

1947 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 1375-1392 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Richard A. Kern

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Respiratory Allergy ◽

Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

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Intralymphatic immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Allergy and Asthma Proceedings ◽

10.2500/aap.2021.42.210028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 283-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael T. Werner ◽

John V. Bosso

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Adverse Event ◽

Skin Prick Testing ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Random Effects Model ◽

Nasal Provocation ◽

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy ◽

Standardized Mean Difference

Background: Only a fraction of patients with allergic rhinitis receive allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). AIT is most commonly delivered subcutaneously in a series of injections over 3‐5 years. Common obstacles to completing this therapy include cost and inconvenience. Intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) has been proposed as a faster alternative, which requires as few as three injections spaced 4 weeks apart. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the current evidence that supports the use of ILIT for allergic rhinitis. Methods: Clinical trials were identified in the published literature by using an electronic search strategy and were evaluated by using a risk of bias tool. Treatment outcome (symptom scores, medication scores, and combined symptom and medication scores) and provocation testing results (nasal provocation and skin-prick testing) were included in a meta-analysis of standardized mean difference with subgrouping by using a random-effects model. Overall adverse event rates were tabulated, and overall risk ratios were calculated by using a random-effects model. Results: We identified 17 clinical trials that met eligibility criteria. The standardized mean difference of ILIT on the symptom and medication score was ‐0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], ‐0.98 to ‐0.46; p < 0.0001) (n = 10). The standardized mean difference of ILIT on nasal provocation and skin-prick testing was ‐1.00 (95% CI, ‐1.38 to ‐0.61; p < 0.0001) (n = 7) and ‐0.73 (95% CI, ‐0.99 to ‐0.47; p < 0.0001) (n = 7), respectively. No statistically significant heterogeneity was detected. The overall adverse event rate was 39.5% for ILIT and 23.5% for placebo. Also, 98.4% of adverse events were mild. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that ILIT was safe, conferred desensitization to seasonal and nonseasonal allergens, alleviated allergic rhinitis symptoms, and reduced medication use. A larger randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial will be necessary for wider adaptation of this form of AIT.

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