Étude de la sensibilisation au pollen de pin maritime (Pinus pinaster) dans la région bordelaise

There are a large number of pine trees (Pinus pinaster) in the Bordeaux region, and these trees produce a large load of pollen. We carried out a prospective study of sensitisation to this pollen in patients coming to our allergy–pulmonary consultation service. We found that 1.3% of this population was sensitive to pine pollen; among those found to be atopic, the frequency was 3%. None of the patients was sensitised only to this pollen, the subjects always having a positive skin test to other inhalant allergens. Clinically, the pine-sensitive patients had asthma and rhinitis and sometimes conjunctivitis also. We found no particular characteristics in this group of patients. These results confirm the weak allergenic potential of pine pollen in the region, where the concentration of this pollen is particularly high.