Presentation: Allergenic relationship of dandelion pollen with major weed pollen (WAO International Scientific Conference 2014)

Monday, 8 December 2014: 15:50 - 16:10

Exhibition Hall-Poster Area (Sul America)

Ji Hye Kim, MD , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

Moon Gyeong Yoon , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

Mi-Ae Kim, MD , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea

Yoo Seob Shin, MD, PhD , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

Young Min Ye, MD , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

Hae-Sim Park, MD, PhD , Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

Background: The prevalence of pollinosis is increasing allergic disease which will increase further with climate changes. During the autumn season, mugwort, ragweed and Hop J pollens are well known as prevalent allergenic pollens in Korea, while an appreciable amount of dandelion pollen has been found in the air, however, its clinical significance has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate its clinical significance and allergenic relationship with major weed pollens.

Methods: We enrolled 97 allergic rhinitis alone or with asthma patients who were sensitized to dandelion pollen on skin prick test (A/H ratio >3) from December 2012 to November 2013. We measured serum specific IgE levels to dandelion extracts by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISA inhibition tests were done to evaluate allergenic relationship with four weed pollens, mugwort, ragweed, Hop J and chenopodium pollens.

Results: When the positive cut-off value for serum specific IgE was determined from the mean+3SD of absorbance values, 52/97(53.6%) had high serum specific IgE. ELISA inhibition tests showed significant inhibitions with serial additions of dandelion pollen extracts, and 5 different patterns were noted with addition of four weed pollen extracts; 1)significant inhibitions with 4 weed pollens(25%, 13/52), 2)significant inhibitions with 3 weed pollens including mugwort, ragweed and chenopodium pollens(17.3%, 9/52), 3)significant inhibitions with 2 weed pollens including mugwort and ragweed pollens(32.6%, 17/52), 4)significant inhibitions with mugwort pollen (21.1%, 11/52) and 5)with dandelion alone (4%, 2/52).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that dandelion pollen is considered as a causative pollen to induce pollinosis in the autumn season. Cross-reactivity with other weed pollens showed individual differences; most patients had cross reactivity with mugwort, ragweed and chenopodium pollens, but some had with Hop J pollen. Few patients were sensitized to dandelion alone.

2019 Allergenic relationship of dandelion pollen with major weed pollen