title: Olea europaea pollen counts and aeroallergen levels predict clinical symptoms in patients allergic to olive pollen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic symptoms are commonly related to atmospheric pollen counts in sensitized allergic individuals. However, concordance between symptoms, pollen counts, and aeroallergen concentrations is not always good.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation between olive pollen counts, aeroallergen levels, and clinical symptoms in patients with allergic asthma or rhinitis in Ciudad Real (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two types of samplers were used to determine pollen exposure: a Burkard spore trap to collect pollen grains and a high-volume air sampler to collect airborne particles. A total of 366 air filters were collected. After extraction, they were analyzed by specific immunoglobulin E enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition using a serum pool containing high titers of olive-specific immunoglobulin E. Twenty olive-pollen monosensitized patients were asked to record their daily symptoms before, during, and after the olive pollen season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Olive pollen was detected between April 21 and June 30, 2004. Symptoms showed positive and significant correlations with pollen counts (r = 0.700, P < .001) and aeroallergen levels (r = 0.803, P < .001). Using a Poisson regression model, relative changes in aeroallergen concentrations and pollen counts were found to be similar and significant. Threshold levels for the induction of symptoms were 162 olive pollen grains/m(3) and 22.7 ng of olive pollen allergen/m(3) (equivalent to 0.9 ng/m(3) of Ole e 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Olive aeroallergen concentrations and pollen counts are positively associated with symptoms of rhinitis and asthma in olive-allergic patients. Both data may be used in the clinical follow-up of these patients.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Feo
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Pilar Mur
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnés
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández-Caldas
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Fidalgo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031658:Olea / Q000276:immunology*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology*; D013696:Temperature; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens