Vine pollen allergy in areas with a high density of vineyards.

BACKGROUND In Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, the area with the highest density of vineyards in the world, 2 cases of Vitis vinifera pollen allergy have been previously reported. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical relevance and biochemical characteristics of vine pollen in the Spanish province of Ciudad Real. METHODS We designed a prospective study of patients treated in the allergy units from Puertollano and Ciudad Real for respiratory symptoms of 4 months' duration in the year 2000. Skin prick tests with a standard aeroallergen battery and V vinifera pollen extract were performed on all patients. We also performed conjunctival and bronchial provocation tests and serum specific IgE and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting on the patients who tested positive for V vinifera pollen. RESULTS We included 200 patients, 98 sensitized to any pollen and 9 to V vinifera pollen. We found 8 of 9 positive conjunctival provocation test results and a positive bronchial provocation result to vine pollen in a vine grower. Serum specific IgE against V vinifera pollen was detected in 9 of 9 patients. Immunoblotting with V vinifera pollen extract showed IgE-binding bands at 45 and 67 kDa. CONCLUSIONS Vine pollen could be the cause of pollinosis in exposed patients living in areas with a high density of vineyards.