Common airborne allergens and their clinical relevance in the Caracas valley.
In order to determine the sequential prevalence of pollen grains and fungi spores in the city of Caracas by the volumetric method of collection and its effect on the population at risk, the first multidisciplinary team of aerobiological research was structured through a protocol designed for five experimental stages namely: a) Determination of the climatological parameters: temperature, relative humidity, speed and wind direction, precipitation and atmospheric stability, through simultaneous records of meteorological status located in the metropolitan area of Caracas; b) Collection, identification, classification and determination of the local distribution of the most important pollen grains existing in the zone under study; c) Collection, identification and classification of the most important fungi spores in the area; d) Preparation of the first pollinic calendar of Caracas and e) Evaluation of possible implication of the environment and the response through the IgE antibody in the selected patients in the area under study. Our results show: 1) The climatic conditions existing during the sampling period coincide with the analysis of the last 20 years in the Valley of Caracas. 2) The Venezuelan Central University (UCV) station was elected as the most representative point for permanent sampling. 3) An ideal statistical method is obtained in order to determine the spatial arrangement in the sampler rod of a dense type of fungi spores typical of the area under study. 4) The first pollinic calendar of Caracas was structured and 5) A seasonal tendency of the IgE response is shown. These results suggest an evident interrelation between the suggested concept of polyseasonality and antigenic polysensitization, and between individual seasonality with a specific reactivity and, finally, between tropical mixed seasonality with the expression of combined respiratory pathologies in our environment.
Perdomo-Ponce
D
D
Clinical Immunology National Center, Venezuelan Central University.
Salgado Labouriau
M
M
Hernández
A
A
Alvarez
F
F
Rull
V
V
Guariglia
M
M
Bolbochán
D
D
Suárez
V
V
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D011058:Pollen; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012621:Seasons; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014505:Urban Population; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D007073:Immunoglobulin E