title: Differences among pollen-allergic patients with and without plant food allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A considerable number of pollen-allergic patients develops allergy to plant foods, which has been attributed to cross-reactivity between food and pollen allergens. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences among pollen-allergic patients with and without plant food allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred and six patients were recruited from 8 different hospitals. Each clinical research group included 100 patients (50 plant food-allergic patients and 50 pollen-allergic patients). Diagnosis of pollen allergy was based on typical case history of pollen allergy and positive skin prick tests. Diagnosis of plant-food allergy was based on clear history of plant-food allergy, skin prick tests and/or plant-food challenge tests. A panel of 28 purified allergens from pollens and/or plant foods was used to quantify specific IgE (ADVIA-Centaur® platform).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and sixty eight patients (83%) of the 806 evaluated had pollen allergy: 396 patients with pollen allergy alone and 272 patients with associated food and pollen allergies. A comparison of both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the food and pollen allergy subgroup in frequency of: (1) asthma (47 vs. 59%; p < 0.001); (2) positive skin test results to several pollens: Plantago, Platanus, Artemisia, Betula, Parietaria and Salsola (p < 0.001); (3) sensitization to purified allergens: Pru p 3, profilin, Pla a 1 - Pla a 2, Sal k 1, PR-10 proteins and Len c 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed relevant and significant differences between both groups of pollen-allergic patients depending on whether or not they suffered from plant-derived food allergy.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. j.cuestaherranz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuesta-Herranz
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cistero-Bahíma
authors.forename: Jesús F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rivas
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sánchez
authors.forename: J Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Florido
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Rosalía
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Blanca E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lombardero
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quiralte
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Monge
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vereda
authors.forename: Mayte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Alonso Díaz de Durana
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basagaña
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Nieto
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Tabar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E