Chrysanthemum pollinosis in Japan

Area of Science:

• Allergology
• Immunology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma are prevalent global health issues.
• Pollen-induced allergies are a significant concern, especially in specific geographic regions.
• The role of chrysanthemum pollen in respiratory allergies requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence and prevalence of chrysanthemum pollinosis in Japan.
• To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of various immunological tests for chrysanthemum allergy.
• To differentiate chrysanthemum pollen allergens from other Compositae pollens.

Main Methods:

• Skin prick tests (SPT) using standardized chrysanthemum pollen extract.
• Intracutaneous tests (ICT) to determine threshold reactivity.
• Passive hemagglutination (P-K) tests for antibody detection.
• In vitro neutralization tests to assess cross-reactivity with other pollens.
• Provocation tests in patients with confirmed allergic rhinitis or asthma.

Main Results:

• A significant percentage of patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma showed positive reactions to chrysanthemum pollen extract via SPT.
• ICT revealed dose-dependent responses, with a low positive rate in non-allergic controls.
• P-K tests were successful in most cases, indicating specific IgE production.
• In vitro tests demonstrated no shared antigenic determinants between chrysanthemum and other Compositae pollens.
• Provocation tests confirmed clinical reactivity in all tested patients.

Conclusions:

• Chrysanthemum pollinosis is a distinct allergic condition prevalent in Japan, especially in mountainous areas.
• SPT, ICT, and P-K tests are valuable diagnostic tools for chrysanthemum allergy.
• Chrysanthemum pollen allergens are specific and do not cross-react significantly with other Compositae pollens.