Skin reactivity to purified pollen allergens in highly ragweed-sensitive individuals.
Five hundred twenty-five atopic patients were skin tested over a 12-mo period to several crude allergens with a puncture skin-testing technique utilizing a bifurcated needle originally developed for smallpox immunization. Of these, 122 were highly allergic to short ragweed pollen and were subsequently tested with a series of purified grass and ragweed allergens. Data of their reactivity to these allergens is presented, and the phenomenon that each patient has a unique "allergic fingerprint" to purified pollen allergens is shown. The puncture technique showed good correlation with quantitative intradermal skin titration and offered a definite advantage, because many allergens could be rapidly and accurately assayed with good patient compliance.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens