Allergenicity to allergens like Prosopis juliflor and date tree pollens in Saudi Arabia

To determine the major causes of allergic reactions and the level of sensitivity to local allergens among residents of Saudi Arabia. Retrospective data analysis. National Center for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 110 patients who had allergies underwent skin testing. Twelve allergens were used for this study including the most commonly reported allergen Prosopis juliflora [mesquite] pollen. Skin prick tests. Date tree pollens and prosopis. Among the causes of allergies found in the 110 patients who were tested, 75.5% were found to be positive to prosposis, 59% to date tree pollens and 54.5% reacted to both. Positive reactions to CAT epithelium [46.4%], Bermuda grass [66.4%], Russian Thistle [71%] and Atriplex should also be considered as major factors causing senstitization in the region as this can also cause cross-reactivity among tree pollens and not necessarily to prosopis pollen. The findings suggest that prosopis pollen is a sensitizing factor to allergic patients of mesquite and their possible cross-reactivities with other tree pollens, merit further research [a] to draw conclusion of prosopis-hypersensitivity in many multiple sensitive patients and [b] to consider Prosopis as one of the major allergens in Saudi Arabia

Detection of hepatitis c virus 5' noncoding RNA in serum samples

To evaluate the level of 5' noncoding region [copies/ml] of Hepatitis C Virus and correlate that with the clinical and laboratory parameters. Experimental controlled trial. National Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-four patients were included in this study, 47 patients were sero-positive for anti-HCV antibodies by third generation enzyme immunometric assay [EIA]. Quantitative and qualitative HCV 5' noncoding RNA from serum samples was detected by nested PCR. Another four serum patients' samples were investigated for hepatitis C virus genotyping. In addition to 13 normal control subjects were included in this study. Alanine transaminase [ALT] levels were raised during the acute infection [mean 83.51]. The clinical features were varied from 23 [45%] asymptomatic patients to 17 [33%] who had jaundice, 46 [90%] complained from fatigue and 34 [66.6%] had nausea and vomiting. Among the 51 HCV-RNA positive samples obtained from patients, 12 samples had below 2,000 copies of HCV-RNA/ml, 4 had between 2,001 and 15,000 copies, 3 had between 15,001 and 50,000 copies, 4 had between 50,001 and 100,000 copies, 9 had between 100,001 and 300,000 copies, and 19 had over 300,000 copies of HCV-RNA/mL. 5' noncoding region of HCV could completely distinguish between genotype and subtype of HCV and these could be important for the initiation of treatment

Incidence of allergen specific IgE in atopic dermatitis patients by immunoblot assay

To determine the incidence of allergens specific IgE by immunoblot assay in atopic dermatitis patients. Prospective study. South Riyadh, Dermatology clinic Alfalah International Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-five adult patients and twenty volunteer controls sera were collected from atopic dermatitis patients. IgE antibodies specific to allergens of food, pollens, animal epithelia, house dust mites, and moulds were determined using an immunoblot assay. The sensitization rate of all allergens was found to be 65% [42/65; 26 males, 39 females]. The subjects were most commonly allergic to pollen [35.2%], food [31.5%] and animal epithelial dander [21.0%]. House dust mite [11.4%] and mould [0.9%] were less frequent than the others were. The result indicates that pollen allergens, food allergens, animal epithelia and dander should be taken into account as possible exacerbating factors in adult patients with AD within the specific geographical area studied