Sensitization profiles to olive pollen allergens and allergic respiratory disease severity in patients from Jaén, Spain: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective

To determine the molecular sensitization profile of patients allergic to olive pollen and evaluate its correlation with the type and severity of the allergic respiratory disease (ARD).

Patients and methods

Observational, cross-sectional study including patients aged 5–55 years with seasonal ARD (rhinitis and/or asthma) due to olive pollen sensitization from the Jaén University Hospital (Jaén, Spain), an area with prolonged high olive pollen exposure. Specific IgE (sIgE) levels to Ole e 1, Ole e 7, and Ole e 9 and clinical variables were considered. ARD severity was categorized according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines (rhinitis) and the Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma (GEMAv4.2).

Results

We included 1111 patients (mean [SD] age: 23.4 [12.7] years, 47.7% female) with asthma (87.8%) and rhinitis (96.9%). Ole e 1 sensitization was the most prevalent (79.6%), followed by Ole e 7 (62.0%) and Ole e 9 (50.8%); 60.3% of patients were sensitized to more than 1 olive pollen allergen and 19.2% had negative sIgE results. Ole e 1, Ole e 7, and Ole e 9 sensitizations were associated with asthma diagnosis and severity (p < 0.001 for all), Ole e 7 sensitization with rhinitis diagnosis (p = 0.006), and Ole e 1 and Ole e 9 with rhinitis severity (p = 0.007 and p = 0.006, respectively). The Ole e 1, Ole e 7, and Ole e 9 triple sensitization profile was associated with asthma diagnosis (p < 0.001) and severity (p = 0.029), and with rhinitis severity (p = 0.009).

Conclusion

Sensitizations to the olive pollen allergens Ole e 7 and Ole e 9 are prevalent in areas with prolonged high pollen exposure and become major allergens together with Ole e 1. In these areas, a considerable proportion of patients allergic to olive pollen have negative sIgE results. Triple sensitization to Ole e 1, Ole e 7, and Ole e 9 is associated with ARD severity and asthma diagnosis. The sensitization profiles based on molecular diagnosis (MD) may affect decisions regarding allergen immunotherapy treatment.