title: The clinical significance of the pollen calendar of the Western Thrace/northeast Greece region in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are major differences in the clinical pattern of allergic rhinitis (AR) patients among countries, reflecting local aerobiological conditions. We analyzed the correlation between airborne pollen concentrations of the Western Thrace/northeast (NE) Greece region with symptoms scores in AR patients. The above data is the first provided for the Mediterranean climate of Greece and reflects the clinical significance of pollen calendar in everyday clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An annual pollen calendar of the most important outdoor aeroallergens (grasses, trees, and weeds) was developed, using a Burkard volumetric spore trap. A total of 168 AR patients were studied and asked to evaluate their symptoms and main seasonal appearance. Sensitization prevalence to pollen species was detected by skin prick tests. Symptoms were evaluated by Total 5 Symptoms Score (T5SS) and correlated to aerobiological data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As far as the pollen calendar is concerned, the highest total percentages of pollens were recorded for olive (24.02% of total), oak (13.74%), grasses (9.08%), and cypress (7.63%). Regarding patients' sensitivities, the most prevalent ones were to grasses (56.0%), olive (43.5%), wall pellitory (24.4%), and cypress (16.7%) antigens. A strong significant correlation between total pollen counts and patients' T5SS (r = 0.874, p < 0.001) was observed. Moreover, strong significant correlations between T5SS and pollen counts were also found for the most prevalent species, including grasses, olive, and Parietaria allergens (r = 0.627, p = 0.029; r = 0.695, p = 0.012; and r = 0.656, p = 0.021, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' symptoms scores were found to be significantly correlated to pollen counts. Given data are important for the management of AR patients who live in similar Mediterranean climate conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katotomichelakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit "D. Kalogeromitros", 2nd Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.affiliation: Upper Airway Research Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit "D. Kalogeromitros", 2nd Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aggelides
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
authors.affiliation: Upper Airway Research Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachert
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012882:Skin Tests; D014197:Trees / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Burkard spore trap; aeroallergens; allergic rhinitis; grasses; pollen calendar; sensitivities; skin prick tests; symptoms score; trees; weeds