Trend of herbaceous pollen diffusion and allergic sensitisation in Genoa, Italy

摘要: In order to investigate the relationship betweenallergenic load and allergic sensitisation prevalenceon a long period, we analysed annual data ofherbaceous pollen airborne diffusion in Genoa(NW-Italy) for 17 years (1981–1997), with particularregard most important allergenic species:Poaceae, Parietaria, Artemisia, Ambrosia. Weevaluated relative trend compared it theprevalence of patients thesepollens same period.The analysis amount revealed asignificant rising (r = 0.73, p < 0.05) Parietaria (average 14.324 grains/m3/year),whereas Poaceae (2048/year) Artemisia(170/year) count did not show any significantchange. Ambrosia 70/year) has been since 1989 0.87, reached themaximum last three years. The prevalence resulted bevery high (about 75%) our atopic withrespiratory symptoms change significantlyin years: allergy waspresent about 70% at least oneSPT positive pollens (and 55% atopicsubjects), this frequency, much higher than theone found North Italy, showed low year-to-year variability.Among pollinotics patients, cutaneoussensitisation was quite stable rate theabove mentioned period 51%), as well thatto Artemisia (8%). skinprick test positivity is very rare 0.5%),without evident increase. present study shows that, some theherbaceous species, cannot demonstrate astraightforward between ofairborne frequency inexposed people. However, case level theair clearly related cutaneous but seems tosuggest ``plateau'' that modified by anyfurther increase (perhaps forgenetic limiting factors). On other hand, count, even if increasing Genoa'satmosphere, could still be too low, would takesome more time cause exposed This kind study, pointing out influence allergen exposure on hypersensitivitymechanisms, should extended world-wideto obtain general conclusions.