2021 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 206-213
Objective: This study aimed to reveal the association between oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and sensitization against alder pollen in children.
Method: The participants included children aged < 15 years who visited Department of Pediatrics, Daisan hospital, The Jikei University School of Medicine from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020, and serum antigen-specific IgE levels against alder and cedar pollen were measured. Patients' information was obtained from the medical records. We also measured airborne alder and Japanese cedar pollen in 2019 and 2020 seasons using the Durham's sampler method.
Result: A total of 490 children were included, and the serum antigen-specific IgE levels were positive in 165 (39%) children aged < 15 years. OAS group were 41 (8.3%), non-OAS group were 257 (52%), and patients whose data of OAS was not available were 192 (39%). The median antigen-specific IgE levels against alder pollen in the OAS group was 9.87 UA/mL (IQR, 0.94-57.15 UA/mL), which was higher than in the non-OAS group. The rate of OAS patients in this study increased along with high specific antibody to alder pollen. In 2019 and 2020, mean airborne alder pollen count per year was 57/cm3 and cedar was 3,667/cm3.
Conclusion: Although alder pollen count was extremely low, the serum antigen-specific IgE levels were positive in 39% and there was a correlation between antigen-specific IgE levels against alder pollen and OAS.
