Rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma caused by vine pollen: A case report

Background: The vine (Vitis vinifera) is a cultivated plant that is found i n some European and American countries. Its pollen gathers in small quantit ies during a short pollination period in the months of May and June. Allerg y to vine pollen has not been previously documented. Objective: We sought to describe a case report of allergy to vine pollen do cumented on the basis of anamnesis, cutaneous, provocation, and specific Ig E determination tests. Methods: An allergenic extract mas obtained from collected V vinifera polle ns by aqueous standard procedures. Pollen counts and pollination periods of this and other common pollens in the area where the patient became symptom atic were studied. Cutaneous tests and the presence of specific IgE to the pollen extracts were performed by prick, CAP, and RAST techniques. Bronchia l and conjunctival tests with the involved pollen extracts were also carrie d out to identify the sensitizing allergens. Five healthy subjects and 5 po llinic patients were used as control subjects and underwent the same tests. Results: Skin prick test responses with vine pollen at different concentrat ions mere positive for the studied patient and negative for the control sub jects. Patient serum revealed a total IgE titer of 334 IU/mL and a specific IgE value of 1.3 PRU/mL (RAST class 2) to vine pollen. Bronchial and conju nctival provocation test responses mere also positive when the patient was challenged with V vinifera extract. Conclusion: Exposure to the pollen of the vineyard plants (V vinifera) can induce immunologic sensitization and rhinoconjunctivitis/asthma.