title: Profilin sensitisation in a Mediterranean population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensitisation to pan-allergens has become an interesting tool for the study of the allergenic profile of different populations. Profilins are one of the most common pan-allergens to be studied because they are responsible for a large number of sensitisations and are clearly related to cross-reactivity and co-sensitisation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the profile of sensitisation to profilins and to correlate it with sensitisation to foods and pollens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and fifty-four consecutive patients were skin-prick tested with a battery of common allergens including pollens, epithelia, mites and moulds and profilin and divided into three groups depending on their sensitisation profile (non-atopic, atopic with pollinosis and atopic without pollinosis). Patients with symptoms were challenged and diagnosed with the offending food extracts. Profilin sensitisation was identified and analysed in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the classification of the population, the prevalence of profilin sensitisation was estimated at 2.9% in patients suffering respiratory allergy, 4.2% in atopic patients, and 5.9% in pollen-sensitised individuals. Positive association was observed between pollen (except Cupressus and olive) and profilin but not with moulds, mites or epithelia. With respect to foods, positive association was only observed between profilin and melon sensitisation. Lastly, in terms of symptoms, positive association was only observed between profilin sensitisation and OAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Profilin sensitisation seems to be a marker of pollen-related poly-sensitisation in our area. Pan-allergen diagnosis seems to be an essential tool for developing and improving selection of the correct treatment for allergic patients.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Huertas
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carreño
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mérida
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pajarón-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Hernández
authors.affiliation: R&D Department, Laboratorios LETI, S.L., Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jcarnes@leti.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnés
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D051304:Profilins / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D051304:Profilins
keywords: Food allergy; Palm tree; Pan-allergens; Profilin; Sensitisation