title: [Sensitization to Casuarina equisetifolia and Pinus spp pollen in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in Mexico City].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pollinosis studies at Mexico City have found a considerable amount of Casuarina equisetifolia and Pinus spp pollen, its sensitization frequency is unknown. In Mexico, some allergens are not considered related to asthma or allergic rhinitis, even though reports in other countries have been demonstrated their relevance as aeroallergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the frequency of sensitization to Casuarina equisetifolia and Pinus spp pollen.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transversal, descriptive trial was done at Hospital General de Mexico. Previous informed consent 142 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma, 3 to 55 years old, were included to the study. A complete clinical evaluation, laboratory tests and skin prick tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 142 patients, 44 children (64% males) and 98 adults (73% females). We found that 8 (18.18%) children and 35 (35.7%) adults had a positive skin prick test to Casuarina equisetifolia. None of the patients included in the study had a positive skin prick test to Pinus spp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to Casuarina equisetifolia is as important as other pollens found in Mexico City. These results suggest that it should be included when skin prick tests are performed. Pinus spp pollen is considered an aeroallergen in European countries but we did not corroborate sensitization in our population.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Hospital General de México. Dr. Balmis 148, 06720 México, DF. a2velascom@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea Aida
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Velasco-Medina
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velázquez-Sámano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019669:Embryophyta / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D028223:Pinus / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D014197:Trees / Q000276:immunology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Casuarina equisetifolia; Pinus spp.; Pollen