@article{3124804,
    title = "The clinical significance of the pollen calendar of the Western Thrace/northeast Greece region in allergic rhinitis",
    author = "Katotomichelakis, M. and Nikolaidis, C. and Makris, M. and Zhang, N. and Aggelides, X. and Constantinidis, T.C. and Bachert, C. and Danielides, V.",
    journal = "International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology",
    year = "2015",
    volume = "5",
    number = "12",
    pages = "1156-1163",
    publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc",
    doi = "10.1002/alr.21623",
    keywords = "pollen antigen;  air;  allergen, adolescent;  adult;  aged;  allergic reaction;  allergic rhinitis;  Article;  child;  cypress;  female;  grass;  Greece;  human;  major clinical study;  male;  oak;  olive;  Parietaria;  plant;  pollen;  prick test;  priority journal;  scoring system;  seasonal variation;  Total 5 Symptoms Score;  immunology;  metabolism;  middle aged;  Poaceae;  pollen;  preschool child;  prevalence;  Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal;  season;  skin test;  tree;  young adult, Adolescent;  Adult;  Aged;  Air;  Allergens;  Child;  Child, Preschool;  Female;  Greece;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Poaceae;  Pollen;  Prevalence;  Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal;  Seasons;  Skin Tests;  Trees;  Young Adult",
    abstract = "Background: There are major differences in the clinical pattern of allergic rhinitis (AR) patients among countries, reflecting local aerobiological conditions. We analyzed the correlation between airborne pollen concentrations of the Western Thrace/northeast (NE) Greece region with symptoms scores in AR patients. The above data is the first provided for the Mediterranean climate of Greece and reflects the clinical significance of pollen calendar in everyday clinical practice. Methods: An annual pollen calendar of the most important outdoor aeroallergens (grasses, trees, and weeds) was developed, using a Burkard volumetric spore trap. A total of 168 AR patients were studied and asked to evaluate their symptoms and main seasonal appearance. Sensitization prevalence to pollen species was detected by skin prick tests. Symptoms were evaluated by Total 5 Symptoms Score (T5SS) and correlated to aerobiological data. Results: As far as the pollen calendar is concerned, the highest total percentages of pollens were recorded for olive (24.02% of total), oak (13.74%), grasses (9.08%), and cypress (7.63%). Regarding patients' sensitivities, the most prevalent ones were to grasses (56.0%), olive (43.5%), wall pellitory (24.4%), and cypress (16.7%) antigens. A strong significant correlation between total pollen counts and patients' T5SS (r = 0.874, p < 0.001) was observed. Moreover, strong significant correlations between T5SS and pollen counts were also found for the most prevalent species, including grasses, olive, and Parietaria allergens (r = 0.627, p = 0.029; r = 0.695, p = 0.012; and r = 0.656, p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: Patients' symptoms scores were found to be significantly correlated to pollen counts. Given data are important for the management of AR patients who live in similar Mediterranean climate conditions. © 2015 ARS-AAOA, LLC."
}