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Rice pollen allergy in Taiwan.
1Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
Annals of Allergy
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Rice pollen allergy affects nearly 10% of asthmatic children, with specific allergens identified. Further research is needed to understand its role in asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma affects millions of children globally.
- Identifying specific allergen triggers is crucial for effective asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of rice pollen allergy in asthmatic children.
- To characterize the specific allergens responsible for rice pollen allergy.
Main Methods:
- Skin testing (ST), radioallergosorbent test (RAST), and immunoblotting were performed on 312 asthmatic children.
- Allergen-induced lymphoproliferation assays were also conducted.
- Molecular weights of identified allergens were determined.
Main Results:
- 9.3% of asthmatic children showed positive skin reactions to rice pollen.
- A significant correlation was observed between skin test positivity and RAST results.
- Immunoblotting identified three major rice pollen allergens (16 kD, 26 kD, 32 kD).
- IgE responses were detected in allergic patients, while normal controls showed stronger IgG responses.
Conclusions:
- Rice pollen proteins can elicit specific immune responses in asthmatic children.
- The identified allergens contribute to allergic reactions in this population.
- The pathogenic role of rice pollen in bronchial asthma requires further investigation.