[The determination of the aggressiveness of allergizing types of pollen (author's transl)]. / Die Bestimmung der Aggressivität allergisierender Pollenarten.

It is a well-known fact that the same amount of various pollen does not cause the same intensity of complaints in different patients with hay fever. This empirically obtained fact has been made objective and applied to the needs of practical allergology. From 1976 to 1978 qualitative and quantitative measurements were carried out on the pollen content of the air in Vienna. At the same time 300 patients with hay fever, who had been thoroughly investigated, made daily recordings of their complaints during the pollen season. A comparison of the two sets of data shows that they correspond well at the time of grass blossoming, yet differ strikingly during the blossoming of trees and herbs. Therefore, the grass pollen count is taken as the basis for any further calculations. By adjusting the amount of all the other types of pollen to the patients' complaints, "correction factors" are established for those types of pollen that are allergologically most important. These correction factors indicate the relative aggressiveness of the individual types in comparison with the grass pollens. In addition, the frequency of sensitization to individual types of pollen was determined in 500 patients at the First Otolaryngological Department of the University Hospital of Vienna. By multiplying the frequency by the correction factor we arrive at the "potency factor" as a measure of the allergological significance of the respective pollen type. The threshold value is indicated as a further parameter. The threshold value is the pollen count per cubic metre of air required to elicit complaints in the average number of sensitized patients. The threshold value for grass pollens is 50 per cubic metre of air; hence the following formula is derived for the determination of the threshold value: (formula: see text). The potency factor and the threshold factor are valuable parameters in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of hay fever.

[Immune serum globulin E in patients with leukoplakia (author's transl)]. / Serum-Immunoglobulin-E bei Leukoplakiepatienten.

Significant changes of humoral factors can occur during the development and growth of malignant tumors. Such can be observed by the periodic recording of immune serum globulin E levels if sensitive RIA methods are employed. Observations of normal persons show largely stable immune serum globulin E levels, and are comparable in patients with leukoplakia of the larynx as well as in patients whose malignant conditions were removed by oepration or radiotherapy. In three patients, a statistically significant increase in serum immune globulin E was recorded immediately before malignant degeneration of known leukoplakia occurred, and was also found in 22 control tumor patients who had experienced local relapses of disease.

[Computer documentation of allergological data on patients suffering from allergies of the ENT-tract (author's transl)]. / Computergerechte Dokumentation allergologischer Daten von Patienten mit Allergien des HNO-Traktes.

After a brief discussion of the purpose of EDP in medicine an EDP system is described that serves the collection of data on patients of an allergy department. It was taken into account that in addition to data concerning case histories and the general and special status data on the different courses of therapies and test results can be collected. The system is specifically adapted to the problem of allergies of the respiratory tract, but may also be used--with minor additions or alterations--for internal or dermatological cases. The aim of this documentation is the systemization and at the same time the rationalization of the examination course, without, however, ruling out individual extensions. Such a system facilitates and accelerates not only the collection of data, it also allows a faster systematic disclosure of errors and makes a meaningful scientific evaluation possible.

[Antigen spectrum of allergic rhinitis (author's transl)]. / Antigenspektrum der allergischen Rhinitis (Ubersicht und eigene Untersuchungen)

The results of 10.000 individual tests have shown that it is necessary to revise and supplement the influences and the emergence of new antigens support this demand. Refined testing for grass pollen seems to be of particular importance, whereby cross reactions must be taken into account. The test program we must, furthermore, take into consideration the geographical incidence distribution of trees and herbs. In Austria, a considerable amount of ragweed pollen has recently been ascertained to be a cause of pollinosis and asthma. The grain pollens are of great importance and so is household dust, which contains regionally different antigens. Animal hairs and epithelia must be tested if the case history indicates possible involvement of these factors. Special mention is made of the increasing significance of mold spores and bacteria. The variety of listed antigens, each of which may cause allergic rhinitis, shows the importance of supplementing the Hansen test. The new priorities in the test programme are incorporated in, and juxtaposed to the Hansen scheme (see Table 1) for clarification.

[Immunological examination methods for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (author's transl)]. / Immunologische Untersuchungsmethoden zur Diagnostik einer allergischen Rhinitis

Only a great number of well-established test methods helps to prove for sure the occurrence of allergic rhinitis. In addition to skin and provocative tests immunological laboratory tests are indicated for reliable diagnosis purposes. According to the immunological tissue reaction underlying the allergic rhinitis the following methods are suitable: the proof of histamine release of leucocytes, the determination of the immune serum globulin E-level and the differentiation of the specific IgE. Precipitation reactions prove the occurrence of antibodies of the type IgG. Hemaglutinating antibodies generally demonstrate the patient's inclination toward allergic reactions. On the basis of these investigations the specificity of the anti-allergic therapy can be essentially increased.