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Challenges for Allergy Diagnosis in Regions with Complex Pollen Exposures

  • Immunologic/Diagnostic Tests in Allergy (M Chapman and A Pomés, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Over the past few decades, significant scientific progress has influenced clinical allergy practice. The biological standardization of extracts was followed by the massive identification and characterization of new allergens and their progressive use as diagnostic tools including allergen micro arrays that facilitate the simultaneous testing of more than 100 allergen components. Specific diagnosis is the basis of allergy practice and is always aiming to select the best therapeutic or avoidance intervention. As a consequence, redundant or irrelevant information might be adding unnecessary cost and complexity to daily clinical practice. A rational use of the different diagnostic alternatives would allow a significant improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic patients, especially for those residing in complex pollen exposure areas.

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Conflict of Interest

Domingo Barber, Araceli Díaz-Perales, Mayte Villalba, and Tomas Chivato declare that they have nothing to disclose.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Applied Molecular Medicine (IMMA) School of Medicine, Universidad CEU San Pablo, 28668, Madrid, Spain

    Domingo Barber

  2. Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics, Campus de Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 280223, Madrid, Spain

    Araceli Díaz-Perales

  3. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de C. Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Mayte Villalba

  4. School of Medicine, Universidad CEU San Pablo, 28668, Madrid, Spain

    Tomas Chivato

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  1. Domingo Barber
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  2. Araceli Díaz-Perales
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  3. Mayte Villalba
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  4. Tomas Chivato
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Correspondence to Domingo Barber.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Immunologic/Diagnostic Tests in Allergy

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Barber, D., Díaz-Perales, A., Villalba, M. et al. Challenges for Allergy Diagnosis in Regions with Complex Pollen Exposures. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 15, 496 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0496-7

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