TYPE-I HYPERSENSITIVITY TO GRAMINEAE POLLEN (BY TRIBE) IN BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA PATIENTS

A total of 260 Costa Rican patients (106 males) with clinical diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma and 100 non atopic subjects were studied with skin prick tests for all Poaceae tribes. Allergic Type I Hypersensitivity to these pollens among the Bronchial Asthma patients reached 51.2% positivity to at least one tribe (2% in controls). The positivity to each tribe was lower than positivity to at least one tribe. Up to 25.4% of positive patients could missed by not testing for all tribes present in the country. The pollen of the Oryzeae tribe (rice) showed the highest positivity among the Bronchial Asthma patients of Guanacaste Province. This province produces most of the country's grains. Type I Allergic Hypersensitivity to Poaceae Family pollens in Bronchial Asthma patients in Costa Rica was higher than expected.