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A new indoor allergen from a common non‐flowering plant
Author(s) -
Axelsson I. G. K.,
Johansson S. G. O.,
Zetterströ O.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1987.tb00391.x
Subject(s) - sensitization , medicine , asthma , allergy , atopy , dermatology , atopic dermatitis , immunology
Ficus benjamina or weeping fig (w‐fig) is one of the most common indoor non‐flowering green plants in northern Europe. We have previously reported that occupational exposure to w‐fig in plant keepers, both atopic and non‐atopic, gives rise to IgE‐mediated allergy with airway symptoms. About one‐fourth of the plant keepers had become sensitized. We now report a study of sensitization in non‐occupationally exposed persons comprising 395 patients, consecutively referred for allergological investigation, and 107 employees from two offices decorated with an abundance of w‐figs. Of the patients, 56% were found to be atopic and more than half of them reported exposure to w‐fig. Sensitization, as judged by a positive skin prick test and positive RAST, was found in 13 of the patients and in three of the employees. All of them suffered from rhinitis and/or asthma and were atopics and sensitized to one or several common allergens. We conclude that sensitization to w‐fig is not uncommon and that in Sweden it is of the same magnitude as sensitization to the most common mould, Cladosporium herbarum. The risk that subjects with a genuine atopic constitution exposed to w‐fig will become sensitized is about 6 %. In approximately half of the patients the sensitization was considered to be clinically important.