[Type I hypersensitivity to gramineae pollen (by tribe), in allergic conjunctivitis patients]

A total of 84 Costa Rican patients with a clinical diagnosis of Allergic Conjuntivitis (with or without other allergic diagnosis) and 100 non atopic subjects were studied by prick tests for all of Poaceae Tribes present in Costa Rica. Positivity was recorded in 70% of the Allergic Conjunctivitis patients for at least one of the tribes (against 2% of controls). An increase in the number of analysed tribes correlated with a higher number of patients allergic to graminean pollens. Guanacaste Province had the highest positivity, and patients aged 11 to 20 years were the most sensitive. Aveneae had the highest positivity except in Alajuela Province, in which Paniceae was highest in positivity. Poaceae pollens are very important in allergic hypersensitivity among Allergic Conjunctivitis patients. Prick tests for all the tribes present in the country are required to fully detect positivity to this family.