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B Sposato,1 G Liccardi,2
M Russo,2 I Folletti,3 A Siracusa,3
N Scichilone,4 MT Ventura,5 G
Rolla,6 A Raie,6 M Milanese,7
R Pio,8 A Pio,9 R Scala,10
C Pareo,11 C Micucci,11 C
Micheletto,12 L Billeri,13 A
Musarra,14 C Cavaliere,15 G
Agolli,15 S Masieri,15 M Scalese,16
D Capitani17 |
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1Pneumology Unit, Azienda
Ospedaliera Misericordia, Grosseto, Italy
2Department of Chest Diseases, Division of
Pneumology and Allergology, High Speciality A.
Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy
3Department of Clinical and Experimental
Medicine, Occupational Allergology, University of
Perugia, Az. Ospedaliera Santa Maria, Terni, Italy
4DIMPEFINU, Unit of Pneumology and Medicine,
University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
5Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine,
University of Bari, Bari, Italy
6Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University
of Torino & Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I, Torino, Italy
7Division of Pneumology, S.Corona Hospital,
Pietra Ligure, Italy
8Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit,
University Federico II, Naples, Italy
9Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit,
Mercato S. Severino, Salerno, Italy
10Unit of Pneumology and UTIP, S.Donato
Hospital, Arezzo, Italy
11Unit of Pneumology, Carlo Urbani
Hospital, Jesi, Italy
12Unit of Pneumology, Mater Salutis
Hospital, Legnago, Italy
13Allergy and Laboratory Unit, University
Hospital Padova, Padova, Italy
14Allergy Unit, National Healthcare System,
Reggio Calabria, Italy
15Otolaryngology Clinic, Policlinico Umberto
I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy
16Institute of Clinical Physiology, National
Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
17ESTAV sud-est, ICT, Azienda Ospedaliera
Misericordia, Grosseto, Italy |
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Abstract |
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Objectives:
In this multicenter
survey, we assessed
the impact of
sensitization to
cypress in atopic
patients in Italy
and determined
whether cypress
pollen concentration
changed over time.
Methods:
Allergists were
required to collect
the results of
100-200 consecutive
skin prick tests (SPTs)
performed during
2012. Seasonal
symptoms were also
recorded, as were
airborne cypress
pollen
concentrations (data
from the Italian
Aerobiology
Association) in
1998- 2000 and
2010-2012.
Results: We
examined 2258 atopic
outpatients (56%
females; age, 2-84
years) sensitized to
at least 1 of the
aeroallergens tested
(Dermatophagoides
species, grass,
pellitory, olive,
cypress, birch,
Alternaria tenuis,
and dog and cat
dander). We found
that 62.9%, 16.1%,
and 32.7% of
patients living in
central, northern,
and southern Italy,
respectively, were
sensitized to
cypress (P<.0001).
The cypress pollen
concentration peak
was delayed from
February to March in
1998-2000 and
2010-2012 in all 3
regions, with a
shift in pollination
towards spring.
Patients who were
monosensitized to
cypress reported
mainly rhinitis
(90.7%-97.6%) and
conjunctivitis
(38.1%-100%). In
polysensitized
patients, the
prevalence of
rhinitis,
conjunctivitis, and
asthma increased
progressively (P<.0001)
from southern to
northern Italy. The
same trend was
observed for the
prevalence of
reported winter
symptoms typical of
cypress allergy
(28%-65%).
Conclusions:
Today, cypress
pollen is the most
frequent sensitizing
aeroallergen
(assessed by SPT) in
several areas of
central Italy.
Variations in the
timing of the
cypress pollination
period may have
favored this
increased
sensitization.
Rhinitis and
conjunctivitis are
the predominant
symptoms. The
clinical impact of
this allergy was
poor in southern
Italy and increased
in central areas
before reaching its
peak in northern
regions.
Key words:
Respiratory allergy.
Cypress.
Cupressaceae.
Sensitization. Skin
prick tests.
Airborne pollen
concentration.
Prevalence. |
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