[A survey of airborne pollen in Wuhan and its relationship to pollinosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the type and drift law of airborne pollen in Wuhan, and its relationship to pollinosis.


METHODS
From November 2003 to October 2004, an airborne pollen investigation was performed in three districts of Wuhan using gravity sedimentation technique. Meanwhile, univalent shin prick tests of pollens and the study of invasion season were performed in 1200 cases with pollenosis. Among them, 352 cases underwent the airway responsiveness measurements, and the correlation between airway responsiveness and pollen concentration were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 47 pollen colonies were observed and 75,525 pollens were collected. Every year the the peak time of airborne pollen occurred in two seasons: spring (March and April) and autumn (from August to October). The incidence of pollinosis is consistent to pollen peak time; there was a negative relationship between PD20 (the provocative dose to decrease FEV1 by 20% from baseline) and airborne pollen concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
The study provides useful information for airborne pollen epidemiology in Wuhan. It provides important insights to clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pollen related allergic diseases.
Zhu
Rongfei
R
Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. zhurongfei92@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Wenjing
W
Wang
Zhongxi
Z
Chen
Huan
H
Zhang
Wei
W
Liu
Guanghui
G
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens