"New" inhalant plant allergens.

Specific IgE measurements, taken from patients who suffered from inhalative allergy (n = 952), show that, despite similar climatic conditions, there are clear regional differences in pollen sensitization between Nordrhein-Westphalia and Bavaria (data taken from the research and development project, Ufoplan 3710 61 228, of the Federal Environment Agency for Nordrhein-Westphalia and Bavaria (2011-2014D. The majority of multi-allergic patients has already shown sensitization/cross-allergies and species-specific sensitization to "new" pollen allergens (e.g., from dog's tooth grass and olive trees). These plants are currently not well established in Germany, but may become increasingly common due to the increase of average yearly temperatures caused by global warming. However, regional plants may also represent "new" pollen allergens. Here, we list plants with prevalence of allergic sensitization of more than 8% (e.g., nettle, cypress, and pine) whose clinical relevance is still underestimated or undiagnosed. The regional plants that are responsible for allergic symptoms during the time of peak complaints need to be identified and the allergens from these regional plants should be tested on individual basis. Allergens having an immune effect can then be targeted by specific immunotherapies. This information should be recorded in pollen-symptom diaries. Recording this information for at least one year may allow us to deduce a correlation between pollen and allergy symptoms.