Clinical Relevance of Profilin Sensitization Concerning Oral Allergy Syndrome in Birch Pollen Sensitized Patients

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and Clinical Data of the Three Study Groups

Characteristics	A (Bet v 1+/ Profilin -)	B (Bet v 1+/ Profilin +)	p	C (Bet v 1-/Profilin -)	p
	n=800	n=121		n=198
Number total 1119 (n, %)	800 (69.7%)	121 (10.5%)		198 (17.3%)
Gender
Male (n, %)	417 (52.1%)	59 (48.8%)	0.490	104 (52.5%)	0.920
Female (n, %)	383 (47.9%)	62 (51.2%)	0.490	94 (47.5%)	0.920
Age (years) (mean)	45 (range: 7–92)	39 (range: 10–84)		40 (range: 6–81)
Children (≤12 yrs)	18 (2.3%)	3 (2.5%)	0.875	7 (3.5%)	0.300
Monosensitized to birch	45 (5.6%)	3 (2.5%)	0.147	5 (2.5%)	0.073
Oligosensitized (to 2–3 allergens)	172 (21.5%)	8 (6.6%)	<0.001	39 (19.7%)	0.578
Polysensitized (to ≥4 allegens)	583 (72.9%)	110 (90.9%)	<0.001	154 (77.8%)	0.160
Cosensitization
Grass (Poaceae)	564 (70.5%)	116 (95.7%)	<0.001	163 (82.3%)	<0.001
Ash (Oleaceae)	381 (47.6%)	89 (73.6%)	<0.001	65 (32.8%)	<0.001
Herbs (Mugwort, Plantain)	353 (44.1%)	88 (72.7%)	<0.001	100 (50.5%)	0.106
Mite (D. pter, D. farinae)	436 (54.5%)	76 (62.8%)	0.086	116 (58.6%)	0.300
Animal dander (dog, cat)	574 (71.8%)	98 (81.0%)	0.033	132 (66.7%)	0.159
Molds (Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium)	195 (24.4%)	44 (36.4%)	0.005	72 (36.4%)	<0.001
Discomfort intensity during birch pollen season
Februrary	16.3%	14.9%		7.6%
March	37.5%	36.4%		11.6%
April	49.4%	57.0%		21.2%

Notes: p<0.05, statistically significant (bold font).

Table 2 SPT Values to Birch in the Study Cohort

SPT Wheal Diameter	A (Bet v 1+/ Profilin -)	B (Bet v 1+/ Profilin +)	C (Bet v 1-/Profilin -)
To Birch in mm	n=800	n=121	n=198
≥3 to 4	111 (13.9%)	18 (14.9%)	124 (62.6%)
≥4 to 5	196 (24.5%)	33 (27.3%)	53 (26.8%)
≥5 to 6	217 (27.1%)	28 (23.1%)	12 (6.1%)
≥6	276 (34.5%)	42 (34.7%)	9 (4.5%)

Table 3 Reported Clinical Manifestations of Symptoms of the Study Population Group A Compared to Group B and C (Percentage in Parentheses)

	A (Bet v 1+/ Profilin -)	B (Bet v 1+/ Profilin +)	p	C (Bet v 1-/Profilin -)	p
	n=800	n=121		n=198
Diagnosis from the allergic symptom complex
Allergic rhinitis	463 (57.9)	84 (69.4)	0.021	88 (44.4)	0.001
Allergic asthma	194 (24.2)	39 (32.2)	0.077	39 (19.7)	0.207
Food allergy	198 (24.8)	45 (37.2)	0.005	14 (7.1)	<0.001
General experience with food
Food aversion	286 (35.8)	53 (43.8)	0.107	57 (28.8)	0.078
Reactions to food
Local reactions to food in terms of OAS
Oral itching	241 (30.1)	55 (45.5)	0.001	24 (12.1)	<0.001
Oral swelling	136 (17.0)	35 (28.9)	0.003	10 (5.1)	<0.001
Systemic reactions to food
Allergic dyspnea	90 (11.2)	18 (14.9)	0.315	10 (5.1)	0.014
Asthma attack	188 (23.5)	38 (31.4)	0.077	53 (26.8)	0.385
Allergic skin reaction	93 (11.6)	18 (14.9)	0.382	13 (6.6)	0.052
Gastrointestinal discomfort	131 (16.4)	35 (28.9)	0.001	22 (11.1)	0.084
Circulation disorders	77 (9.6)	12 (9.9)	1.000	15 (7.6)	0.450
Allergic rhinitis
Nasal obstruction	457 (57.1)	71 (58.7)	0.823	111 (56.1)	0.849
Nasal secretion	419 (52.4)	68 (56.2)	0.492	96 (48.5)	0.367
Sneezing spell	424 (53.0)	76 (62.8)	0.055	98 (49.5)	0.421
Nose itching	326 (40.8)	63 (52.1)	0.024	80 (40.4)	0.994
Throat secretion	296 (37.0)	45 (37.2)	1.000	75 (37.9)	0.883
Seasonal discomfort	489 (61.1)	96 (79.3)	<0.001	96 (48.5)	0.002
Perennial discomfort	326 (40.8)	49 (40.5)	1.000	80 (40.4)	0.994
Atopic Comorbidities
Eczema	69 (8.6)	14 (11.6)	0.377	18 (9.1)	0.946
Atopic dermatitis	95 (11.9)	16 (13.2)	0.784	19 (9.6)	0.437

Notes: p<0.05, Statistically Significant (Bold Font).

Table 4 Ranked Triggers of Oral Allergy Syndrome in This Cohort

	Food	A (Bet v 1+/ Profilin -)	B (Bet v 1+/ Profilin +)	C (Bet v 1-/Profilin -)
		n=800	n=121	n=198
1	Nuts	189 (23.6%)	28 (23.1%)	8 (4.0%)
2	Apple	144 (18.0%)	26 (21.5%)	1 (0.5%)
3	Milk products	67 (8.4%)	14 (11.6%)	18 (9.1%)
4	Stone fruits*	53 (6.6%)	11 (9.1%)	2 (1.0%)
5	Cherry	38 (4.8%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.5%)
6	Carrot	36 (4.5%)	13 (10.8%)	2 (1.0%)
7	Kiwi	28 (3.5%)	6 (5.0%)	2 (1.0%)
8	Alcohol	16 (2.0%)	2 (1.7%)	7 (3.5%)

Notes: *Peach, cherry, nectarine, apricot, plum or yellow plum.