[Change in the allergen spectrum of hay fever patients in the Southern Great Plains of Hungary (1990-1998)]. / A szénanáthás betegek allergénspektrumának változása a Dél-Alföldön (1990-1998).

On the basis of their 9-year-long allergological and aeropalinological studies the authors examined if the allergen spectrum of their hay fever patients in connection with the seasonality of the symptoms and the pollen count of these 9 years has changed or not. The results of the skin prick tests and of the case histories of patients examined in 1990/91 and 1997/98 were compared. Pollen counting was performed with a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 sampler. By the end of the examined period the ratio of severely polysensitized patients (with 4 or more positive skin prick tests) increased significantly according to the significantly increased amount of positive skin prick tests to trees, rye and plantago. As the seasonality of the patients, symptoms did not change during this period, this increase in skin prick test positivity means a latent allergy. In a few years, however it may become a manifest allergy causing symptoms in early springtime. According to the pollen count results the atmospheric pollen pollution of the region was markedly high during the possible period of these patients' sensitisation.

[Food allergy in patients with respiratory allergy. Diagnostic possibilities and problems]. / Légúti allergiás betegek étalallergiája. Diagnosztikai lehetöségek és problémák.

UNLABELLED: In the past two years the authors examined 28 patients with abdominal complaints and allergic respiratory symptoms. Detailed internal, gastroenterological, allergological examinations were made. METHODS: 1 skin Prick-test (SPT) with inhalative and nutritive panel 2. measuring of food-specific (gliadin, alpha-lactalbumin beta-lactoglobulin, ovalbumin) IgG-antibody level detecting with ELISA method, 3. leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test against the same foodstuffs, 4. histological examination of the stomach and the duodenum especially for mucosal mastocytes (MMCs). RESULTS: 1. SPT was positive in 23/28 patients for inhalative, but in the 5 cases we did not identify any inhalative allergen. The SPT for the main foodstuffs were positive in 18 patients while in 3 other patients there was urtica only for the other antigens. 2. The food-specific IgG-antibody level was increased in 18/27 patients against one or more antigens. The SPTs and the antibody determination showed identity in 8/18 cases. 3. The LMI tests were positive against one or more main food-products in 23/27 cases. There was common positivity in respect of antigens (between LMI test and antibody identification) in 17 cases. Pathological immunological reactions were presented against the same main foodstuffs with at least two methods for flour in 11, for egg in 10 and for milk in 12 patients. Endoscopic examinations were performed in 27 cases. The number of the MMCs were increased in 22/27 patients. After a specific elimination diet open-food challenges were performed and they confirmed the results of the in vitro and in vivo examinations. CONCLUSION: It is common that the respiratory allergic symptoms in atopic patients accompanied with food allergy for the main foodstuffs caused not only more severe respiratory symptoms, but abdominal complaints too. In respect to the many positive LMI tests the late-type hypersensitivity have important pathogenetical role in it. This three methods together define well the main food-products, which can be antigens as well. The examination of the MMCs supports the local disturbance in the immunoregulatory system.

[Lawn grass (Poaceae) causing hayfever in the South Plain of Hungary. Results of aeropalinologic and allergologic studies 1989-95]. / Pázsitfüvek (Poaceae) okozta szénanátha a Dél-Alföldön. Aeropalinológiai és allergológiai felmérés eredménye 1989-1995.

The importance of Grass (Poaceae) pollen as a cause of hay fever in the South-Plain of Hungary was studied by aeropalinological and allergological methods. Since 1989 the pollen counting has been performed with the help of a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 sampler. On the basis of the pollen counting the second most important allergen pollen of this region are the grass pollen. From 1989 to 1995 skin prick tests (Soluprick, Epipharm) were performed in 642 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. 261 of these patients suffer from hay fever in May and June when the daily pollen count of grass pollen is the highest. The skin prick tests of these 261 patients were positive to Poaceae in 84%, and to Secale in 63%. But 57% of the patients was allergic to both Poaceae and Secale, so the exact allergen research is very important before hyposensitisation. Ragweed (63%) and Mugwort (33%) sensitivity was found also in high percent of the grasspollinosis patients with symptoms during the late summer season too.

[Diagnostic problems before specific immunotherapy in patients with late-summer seasonal allergic rhinitis]. / Specifikus immunterápia elötti diagnosztikus problémák nyárvégi-öszi szezonalitású rhinitis allergicás betegeken.

Skin prick tests were performed on 245 patients with late summer seasonal allergic rhinitis, and of these patients, 135 specific serum IgE test were performed. On the basis of skin prick test results, 94% of the patients were found to be sensitive to Ragweed: 18% of these patients had monosensitisation to Ragweed, and 56% were sensitive not only to Ragweed but also to Mugwort. The correlation between results of skin prick tests and specific serum IgE tests was found to be very good (95%) with Ragweed antigen experiencing no problem in the diagnostic process before immunotherapy. However, in 48% of patients with positive skin prick tests to Mugwort the specific serum IgE was found to be negative. Before immunotherapy, a specific nasal provocation test was performed on 12 of these patients with Mugwort to examine the real sensitivity of the shock-organ. This careful allergen research will demonstrate which components of allergen extract should be used for immunotherapy in late summer seasonal allergic rhinitis patients.

[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.