Maize pollen is an important allergen in occupationally exposed workers

Table 2 Allergic symptoms and sensitization to maize pollen and common environmental allergens

	*Subject*
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
*Work-related symptoms* (during maize pollination), ^§ yes (+)/no (-)
Rhinitis	+	+	+	+	+	-	-	-
Conjunctivitis	+	+	+	-	+	-	-	-
Urticaria	+	+	+	-	+	-	-	-
Shortness of breath	-	+	-	-	+	-	-	-
*Latency of allergic symptoms after start of maize pollination* (months)	2	120	7	2	1	-	5⁺	-
*Latency of maize pollen allergy after onset of grass pollen allergy* (years) ^$	10	-°	11	9	6	-	-	-
*Maize pollen*
- extract (IgE kU/l) ^#	5.48	3.69	1.32	0.70	0.49	-	-	-
- Western blotting	+	+	+	-	-	-	-	-
- Skin prick test, pos (+)/neg (-)	+	+	-	+	n/a	+	-	-
*Grass pollen*
- extract (IgE kU/l) ^#	4.45	0.38	5.61	2.55	-	-	-	-
- Phl p 1 (IgE kU/l) ^#	1.16	-	1.49	-	-	-	-	-
- Phl p 5 (IgE kU/l) ^#	1.25	-	2.52	0.70	-	-	-	-
- Western blotting	+	-	+	-	-	-	-	-
- Skin prick test, pos (+)/neg (-)	+	+	+	+	n/a	+	+	-
*Skin prick test with common environ- mental allergens* ^&	1;2;3*	1;9*	1;2; 4;6*	1;2;3;4;5 7;8;9; 10;11;12*	n/a	1	1;3*	-

(according to work-related symptoms and CAP results (CAP class ≥ 1), subjects 1 to 5 were considered as "maize pollen-allergic")
+ = positive result; - = absent or negative result; n/a = not applicable
^§the subjects were asked if they had ever suffered from repeated rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria or shortness of breath for at least several weeks due to maize pollination
⁺in this subject, grass and tree pollen (but not maize pollen) caused allergic symptoms
^#significant IgE antibodies (CAP class ≥ 1; > 0.35 kU/l) are bold
^$the onset of allergy was based on anamnestic data about first atopy symptoms in connection with exposure to grass pollen or maize pollen
° this subject could not remember having had any allergic symptoms after exposure to grass pollen
^&1 = grass pollen; 2 = cat dander; 3 = pollen of early-, mid- and late-blooming trees; 4 = Dermatophagoides farinae, 5 = Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 6 = Alternaria alternata; 7 = dog dander; 8 = Ambrosia; 9 = rye; 10 = nettle; 11 = goosefoot; 12 = plantain
*atopic subject (at least 2 positive skin prick tests to common environmental allergens)

ISSN: 1745-6673