[Aeropollinologic and allergologic studies for the clarification of "poplar tree hay fever"]. / Aeropolinológiai és allergológiai vizsgálatok a "nyárfa-allergia" tisztázására.

The authors performed allergen research on patients reported hay fever symptoms during the poplar pollen season (March), and in patients with hay fever symptoms during the time of the year that the seed hairs of the poplar trees are blowing in the air (May). Skin prick tests (Epipharm) and serum specific IgE tests (Epignost IgE Quick and Phadezym Populus deltoides RAST, Pharmacia) were performed on the basis of the pollen calendar of Szeged region on 30 patients. The pollen containt of the air was measured by means of a Lanzoni sampler. According to the pollen calendar of our region a large amount of grass pollens could be found in the air at the same time as the seed hairs of poplar trees are present (in May). The season of poplar pollen is in March in this area. Poplar pollen sensitivity was found on 8 patients. This is 6.8% of the total number of hay fever patients. They were found to be sensitive to other tree pollens too. The 23 patients complaining about hay fever symptoms in May, during the flaying of the cottons of the poplar trees in the air were all found to be sensitive to grass pollens. On the basis of our results the poplar pollen sensitivity is a relatively rare cause of hay fever. Our patients having complained about the seed hairs were all found to be sensitive to grass pollens. It seems that the grass pollens are the real cause of their disease.

[Results of skin tests, based on pollen count, in patients allergic to summertime seasonal rhinitis]. / Pollenszámlálás alapján végzett börtesztek eredményei nyárvégi szezonalitású rhinitis allergicás betegeken.

Atmospheric pollen and spore contents in Szeged were determined with Lanzoni Sampler from July to October in 1989. Late-summer pollen calendar for Szeged was produced on the basis of this pollen counting. Skin prick tests in 69 patients with late-summer seasonal allergic rhinitis were carried out on the basis of this pollen calendar. All patients were found to be sensitive to Ambrosia. 83% of the patients were sensitized to Artemisia too. 93% of the patients were found to be polysensitive. 33% of the patients were found to be sensitive to Alternaria. The continuous atmospheric pollen and spore counting are of importance for the diagnosis and therapy of late-summer seasonal allergic rhinitis.

[Comparative study of ketotiphen and oxatomide (repeated skin- and nasal provocation)]. / Ketotifen és oxatomide összehasonlító vizsgálata (ismételt bör- és nasalis provokációban).

The authors report a comparative study on the effects of ketotifen and oxatomide on repeated provocation of the skin and the nasal mucosa in 16 children (4 girls and 12 boys, average age 12.0 +/- 3.25 yr) with diagnosed seasonal allergic rhinitis. Preceding and following a 4-week ketotifen or oxatomide treatment, a quantitative prick skin test was performed and evaluated by planimetry and a specific nasal provocation (SNP) was performed and objectivated by rhinothermometry. Both the oedematous skin reactions induced by histamine and allergen and the clinical and thermal scores obtained by direct observation of the shock organ (SNP) were decreased more strongly by ketotiten than by oxatomide. The results of preseasonal in vivo pharmacodynamic studies are expected to permit more effective, individual medication before the pollen season or at the first sign of the symptoms.

Beta-adrenergic receptors of lymphocytes in children with allergic respiratory diseases.

The beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites on peripheral lymphocytes in children with bronchial asthma (n = 16) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (n = 8) were examined in comparison with normal controls (n = 18) by means of 124I-cyanopindolol. The number of beta-adrenergic receptors was significantly lower in the asthmatic group (858 +/- 460/lymphocyte) than in the controls (1564 +/- 983/lymphocyte). The value (1891 +/- 1502/lymphocyte in children with allergic rhinitis was slightly higher than that in healthy controls. Of the 24 patients suffering from allergic diseases of the lower or upper airways, the bronchial histamine provocation test was performed in 21; 16 gave positive results, while 5 were negative. No difference in beta-adrenergic receptor count was found between the histamine-positive and negative patients. Neither was there any correlation between the number of beta-adrenergic receptors and the high (16/24) and low (8/24) serum IgE concentrations found in allergic patients. The significant decrease in beta-adrenergic receptor count in asthmatic children lends support to Szentiványi's concept. Further qualitative and quantitative analysis of lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors may provide an individual approach to the treatment of bronchial asthma with beta-sympathomimetic drugs.