title: Risk factors for oral allergy syndrome in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a unique allergic reaction to food, which is caused by cross-reactivity between proteins in fresh fruits or vegetables and pollens. Predisposing factors for OAS are not well known in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify the probable risk factors for OAS in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eleven consecutive patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were included. Patients were evaluated in terms of symptom scores and skin prick test positivity scores. Prick-by-prick tests with the fresh fruit or vegetable were carried out in patients who describe oral allergy syndrome. Patients with OAS and without OAS were compared statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OAS was more frequent in females than males (p=0.01). Odds ratio for gender (male/female) was 3.80 (95% confidence interval: 1.28-11.32). Within nasal symptoms, only nasal itching was related with OAS (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the prevalence of the OAS and age, asthma, TSS and TSTP (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not all patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis develop OAS. It is likely that, patients with OAS have some additional risk factors other than atopy.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy and School of Medicine, Gulhane Training Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. caliskaner@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Caliskaner
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naiboglu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kartal
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Yalçın
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onem
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulec
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome