Spring allergies: effective treatment

Birch pollen is one of the most common causes of allergies in patients with allergies to tree pollen.

Birch feels best in a temperate climate, where it receives a sufficient amount of moisture, heat and light. Birch blossoms usually occur in the second half of spring. It is during this period that allergy sufferers may have allergy symptoms.

Birch pollen contains not one allergen, but several at once, including the main allergen Bet v 1 and minor allergens Bet v 2, Bet v 3, Bet v 4, Bet v 6, Bet v 7, Bet v 8, which can bind to immunoglobulin E (IgE) in our body. Let's look at each of them separately.

Bet v 1

This allergen is a key allergen of birch pollen and causes allergies in 90% of people with allergies to birch pollen.

The allergen belongs to a family of proteins called PR-10. Interestingly, proteins from the same family (PR-10) are found in the pollen of other trees, various fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. Due to the high affinity between different proteins of the PR-10 family, the immune system can mistake these proteins for the same thing, and therefore cross-reactivity reactions appear.

So, PR-10 is found in the pollen of alder, beech, hornbeam, hazel, chestnut and oak. This causes the appearance of symptoms not only during the flowering period of birch, but also may increase the time of symptoms due to allergies to pollen of these trees.

About 70% of birch pollen allergy patients experience food allergy symptoms due to cross-reactivity between birch pollen allergens and food allergens. Food allergens that cross-react with Bet v 1 are apple (Mal d 1), kiwi (Act d 8), peach (Pru p 1), pear (Pyr c 1), strawberry (Fra a 1), apricot (Pru ar 1), cherry (Pru av 1), hazelnuts (Cor a 1), peanuts (Ara h 8), soy (Gly m 4), celery (Api g 1) and carrots (Dau c 1) (37, 38).

The main syndrome of food allergy due to PR-10 is oral allergic syndrome. It is characterized by itching in the oral cavity, swelling of the lips, tongue or larynx, a feeling of coma in the throat and other symptoms in the oral cavity.

An important property of these proteins is that they are thermolabile. This means that during boiling or other heat treatment, the protein loses its allergenic properties. This means that the heat-treated product (cooking, frying, baking) makes it safe.

Protein also loses its allergenic properties upon contact with hydrochloric acid of the stomach and digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the protein also does not cause systemic allergic reactions.

There is something else that is important to know.

The treatment of pollinosis, which is aimed at preventing allergy symptoms, is called allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). And the drugs that are used for therapy contain exactly this allergen, Bet v 1. The other allergens in the preparation are present only as an impurity. And to understand whether therapy will help or not, they use the definition of IgE for this particular protein. IgE to Bet v. 1. If you are allergic to this protein, ASIT will help, if not, the effect will be weak.

So, let's summarize the main allergen of birch pollen Bet v 1.

If IgE to Bet v 1 is positive:

• "-" we have a high probability of developing cross-food allergies with some fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes
  
• "+" ASIT will help us
  

There are other allergens of birch pollen. For example, Bet v 2 and Bet v 4. They are found in all pollen and in all plant foods and can also cause symptoms of pollinosis and food allergies.

These allergens are even more easily destroyed by heat treatment and under the action of enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, they do not pose a danger in heat-treated form and do not cause severe allergic reactions when using the product in its raw form.

However, these allergens are found in the pollen of all plants and can cause a cross-reaction between tree pollen and, for example, pollen from cereals or weeds.

Thus, we have figured out with you the allergens of birch pollen and related trees.

The Olymp CDL laboratory offers a range of tests necessary for the diagnosis of allergy to birch pollen at any level, from pollen to its molecules:

• IgE to birch
  
• IgE to Bet v 1
  
• IgE to Bet v. 2
  
• IgE to Bet v 4

Find out about your allergies and be healthy!