Effect of seasonal exposure to pollen on specific bronchial sensitivity in allergic patients

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 85; no. 6; pp. 1014 - 1019
• Main Authors: Crimi, Emanuele, Voltolini, Susanna, Gianiorio, Piero, Orengo, Giovanni, Troise, Costantino, Brusasco, Vito, Crimi, Paolo, Negrini, Arsenio C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.06.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: alergenos; allergene; allergens; analysis; Antibodies; Antibodies - immunology; antibody formation; asma; asthma; Asthma - immunology; asthme; Betula; Biological and medical sciences; bronche; bronchi; Bronchi - immunology; Bronchial Provocation Tests; bronquios; esteroides; Humans; hypersensitivity; immune response; immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; immunoglobuline; immunoglobulins; immunology; Immunopathology; inmunoglobulina; Medical sciences; polen; pollen; Pollen - immunology; Radioallergosorbent Test; reacciones alergicas; reaction allergique; reponse immunitaire; respuesta inmunologica; seasonal variation; Seasons; Skin Tests; steroide; steroids; variacion estacional; variation saisonniere; AU; LAR; OD; PD 15; EAR; Human; Allergy; In vivo; Sensitivity; Respiratory disease; Antibody; Immunological investigation; Seasonal variation; Exposure; Pollen; Humoral immunity
• ISSN: 0091-6749
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(90)90045-6

Bronchial provocation tests with aerosol of birch extract were performed before and after pollen season in 11 sensitized subjects. Changes of methacholine bronchial responsiveness and serum-specific IgE level were also assessed. In five patients who did not take steroids to control their symptoms, both early and late asthmatic responses to inhaled allergen were enhanced after season, whereas IgE serum level, but not methacholine sensitivity, was significantly increased. In six patients who needed steroids, neither responses to allergen nor IgE serum level and methacholine sensitivity were significantly changed after season. For the whole group, the increase in immediate bronchial sensitivity to allergen was positively correlated with the increase in specific IgE antibodies. We conclude that seasonal exposure to pollen has, in sensitized patients, a priming effect on bronchial mucosa that may be blunted by steroid treatment. The increased production of specific IgE antibodies appears to be an important mechanism for this priming effect.