The features of the pollen sensitization in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients with gastrointestinal tract inflammatory diseases comorbidity

BACKGROUND: Allergic diseases and gastrointestinal tract diseases can influence on the natural course of each other.

AIM: To study the sensitization profile in patients with comorbidity of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and upper gastrointestinal tract inflammatory diseases (UGITID).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 112 adult residents of Volgograd city suffering from SAR but without perennial symptoms and sensitization to indoor allergens have been included in the study. 31/112 patients had H. pylori­-negative and 38/112 H. pylori­-positive UGITID. Control group consisted of 43/112 patients without gastrointestinal diseases. Skin prick-­testing with 3 groups of pollen allergens have been carried out.

RESULTS: 75.9% of patients were sensitized to weed pollen; sensitization to grass pollen was in 1.5–3 times less, and 10.5% of patients (4/38) had positive tests with birch pollen. The sensitization to quinoa and ragweed in SAR and H. pylori«–»­-UGITID patients was comparable with control group but less common with wormwood, sumpfweed allergens. The sensitization in SAR patients and H. pylori«+»­-UGITID was similar to the control group, but positive SPT with sunflower and corn allergens were rare then in control group.

CONCLUSION: Weed pollen allergens prevail in sensitization spectrum of adult Volgograd residents with SAR. Sensitization to goose-foot and ragweed is common less in SAR patients and H. pylori«–»­-UGITID but to graminea grass and birch pollen is more often. It may be supposed that the UGITID are predisposing factors to the sensitization to cross-­reacting plant food allergens. At the same time supposed immunomodulating action of H. pylori make the differences between AR patients with H. pylori«+»­-UGITID or H. pylori«–»­-UGITID minor.