Allergy induced by Parietaria officinalis pollen in southern Croatia

Pollen of Parietaria officinalis causes season-associated respiratory symptoms. In Southern Croatia (Yugoslavia) we found 65% patients with rhinitis and/or asthma to be allergic to this pollen. They showed positive cutaneous reactions and had specific IgE antibodies to the respective isolated allergen. The finding represents the first report on Parietaria officinalis-induced allergy on the east Adriatic coast.