Occupational pollinosis induced by radish and Chinese cabbage pollen

Abstract

We experienced a case of occupational pollinosis induced by the radish (Raphanus sativus) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris, cabbage) pollen in 33-year old woman. She had worked at the Korean National Horticultural Research Institute (NHRI) for 7 years and visited our allergic clinic due to cough, rhinorrhea, sputum, and dyspnea for 2 months. She had involved in the process of artificially pollinating radish and cabbage flowers directly for 1.5 years. Especially dyspnea and paroxysmal nocturnal cough were developed at those nights after the exposure of pollens. Her pulmonary function was normal. Her methacholine PC 20 was 7.69 mg/ml. Total peripheral eosinophil count was 170/ul and serum total Ig E level was 313 IU/ml. Allergy skin prick test showed positive responses to D.F (3+), D.P (4+), Japanese cedar (4+), Hop J (4+) and serum specific IgE detected by CAP-FEIA showed at D.F (class 3), D.P (3), and Japanese cedar (1). Skin prick test to the extracts (1:20 w/v) of radish and cabbage pollens showed strong positive responses (3+) and specific IgE to radish and cabbage pollen extracts were detected by ELISA. On IgE immunoblotting radish pollen extracts showed diffuse binding bands between 13kD and 8kD and cabbage pollen extracts noted two bands at 19kD and between 13kD and 8kD. There was strong cross allergenecity between radish and cabbage pollen on IgE-ELISA inhibition but radish and cabbage pollen did not show any cross reactions with pollens of oak tree and Hop j and D.F.