Heterogeneity of pollen food allergy syndrome in seven Southern European countries: The @IT.2020 multicenter study
Creators: name: Lipp, Theresa
name: Acar Şahin, Aydan
name: Aggelidis, Xenophon
name: Arasi, Stefania
name: Barbalace, Andrea
name: Bourgoin, Anne
name: Bregu, Blerina
name: Brighetti, Maria Antonia
name: Caeiro, Elsa
name: Caglayan Sozmen, Sule
name: Caminiti, Lucia
name: Charpin, Denis
name: Couto, Mariana
name: Delgado, Luís
name: Di Rienzo Businco, Andrea
name: Dimier, Claire
name: Dimou, Maria V.
name: Fonseca, João A.
name: Goksel, Ozlem
name: Guvensen, Aykut
name: Hernandez, Dolores
name: Hoffmann, Tara Maria
name: Jang, Dah Tay
name: Kalpaklioglu, Fusun
name: Lame, Blerta
name: Llusar, Ruth
name: Makris, Michael P.
name: Mazon, Angel
name: Mesonjesi, Eris
name: Nieto, Antonio
name: Öztürk, Ayse
name: Pahus, Laurie
name: Pajno, Giovanni Battista
name: Panasiti, Ilenia
name: Papadopoulos, Nikolaos G.
name: Pellegrini, Elisabetta
name: Pelosi, Simone
name: Pereira, Ana M.
name: Pereira, Mariana
name: Pinar, Munevver
name: Potapova, Ekaterina
name: Priftanji, Alfred
name: Psarros, Fotis
name: Sackesen, Cansin
name: Sfika, Ifigenia
name: Suarez, Javier
name: Thibaudon, Michel
name: Travaglini, Alessandro
name: Tripodi, Salvatore
name: Verdier, Valentine
name: Villella, Valeria
name: Xepapadaki, Paraskevi
name: Yazici, Duygu
name: Matricardi, Paolo M.
name: Dramburg, Stephanie
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: oral allergy syndrome
subject: panallergen
subject: pollen food allergy syndrome
subject: seasonal allergic rhinitis
subject: Southern Europe
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a frequently underdiagnosed disease due to diverse triggers, clinical presentations, and test results. This is especially relevant in geographic areas with a broad spectrum of pollen sensitization, such as Southern Europe. Objectives To elucidate similarities and differences of PFAS in nine Southern European centers and identify associated characteristics and unique markers of PFAS. Methods As part of the @IT.2020 Multicenter Study, 815 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), aged 10-60 years, were recruited in seven countries. They completed questionnaires regarding SAR, comorbidities, family history, and PFAS, and underwent skin prick testing (SPT) and serum IgE testing. Results Of the 815 patients, 167 (20.5%) reported PFAS reactions. Most commonly, eliciting foods were kiwi (58, 34.7%), peach (43, 25.7%), and melon (26, 15.6%). Reported reactions were mostly local (216/319, 67.7%), occurring within 5 min of contact with elicitors (209/319, 65.5%). Associated characteristics included positive IgE to at least one panallergen (profilin, PR-10, or nsLTP) (p = 0.007), maternal PFAS (OR: 3.716, p = 0.026), and asthma (OR: 1.752, p = 0.073). Between centers, heterogeneity in prevalence (Marseille: 7.5% vs. Rome: 41.4%, p &lt; 0.001) and of clinical characteristics was apparent. Cypress played a limited role, with only 1/22 SPT mono-sensitized patients reporting a food reaction (p &lt; 0.073). Conclusions PFAS is a frequent comorbidity in Southern European SAR patients. Significant heterogeneity of clinical characteristics in PFAS patients among the centers was observed and may be related to the different pollen sensitization patterns in each geographic area. IgE to panallergen(s), maternal PFAS, and asthma could be PFAS-associated characteristics.