PLATANUS POLLEN AS AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF POLLINOSIS

Objective: The existence of Platanus pollinosis is not generally accep ted despite the production of very large quantities of airborne Platan us pollen in many cities of the United States and Europe. The aim of t his study was to investigate if Platanus pollen really contributes to the symptoms of the patients with pollinosis in the Madrid area. Metho ds: We carried out systematic skin prick testing with Platanus pollen extract on 47 patients seen in our allergy center with spring-summer p ollinosis symptoms. Each patient maintained symptom score diaries befo re, during, and after the Platanus pollination season. The average sym ptom scores were calculated and compared with the Platanus pollen coun ts. Measurements of specific IgE by ELISA and immunoblotting also were performed in each patient. Results: The Platanus skin tests were posi tive in 33 of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during Platanus pollen season and only in three of the eight patients withou t symptoms during Platanus exposure (Fisher's exact test; p < 0.05). T wenty-two of the 33 Platanus-positive skin test patients also had a po sitive ELISA result. Furthermore, the average 24-hour rhinitis symptom scores of the 39 patients first seen with seasonal symptoms during Ma rch through April showed significant correlation with Platanus pollen counts (r(s) = 0.57, p < 0.05). The immunoblot results suggest that a 17 kd pollen protein could be a major allergen in patients with Platan us pollinosis. Conclusions: Platanus pollen is an important cause of p ollinosis in Madrid. A protein with a molecular weight of 17 kd appear ed to be its major allergen.