Sycamore allergy T78.0, T 78.1, L27.-

Pollen allergy occurring in temperate climate zones. Especially in the Mediterranean countries, sycamore pollen sensitized persons (>50 %) have a food allergy to hazelnut, apple, banana, celery, hazelnut, chickpea and peanut. The cross-reacting allergens are not yet known exactly (a cross-reacting lipid transfer protein is questionable).

The allergen spectrum known so far and identified at molecular level shows the following distribution:

For Plantanus acerifolia

• Pla a 1 Putative invertase inhibitor (major allergen, detection up to 80% in sycamore pollen sensitized patients)
• Pla a 2 Polygalacturonase
• Pla a 3 Non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP)

For Platanus orientalis (Platanus orientalis)

• Pla or 1 plant invertase/pectin Methylesterase inhibitor (see below Invertase)
• Pla or 2 Polygalacturonase
• Pla or 3 Non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP)

Plane trees are, depending on the species, deciduous to semi-evergreen trees, which reach growth heights of 25 to 50 meters. They can become over 2000 years old. Thus Crete's largest plane tree (in Krasi) is about 2500 years old.

A special feature of the plane trees is their bark. It flakes off annually in thin plates and leaves a typical multicoloured pattern of whitish and greenish areas. The maple-leaved plane tree (Platanus acerifolia) - a cross between the North American and Oriental plane trees - can easily be confused with a maple tree. Both form typical three-toothed leaves. This species of plane tree is often found as an insensitive, emission-resistant street planting. Platanus occidentalis is mainly found in the Mediterranean region and often leads to sensitization there. Young leaves and the flowers are woolly covered with fine hairs. These can cause the so-called plane tree cough in sensitive people. Pollination of the inflorescences is by the wind.

The flowering period lasts from April to the end of May. The concentration of sycamore pollen varies considerably depending on the location.

It is unclear whether immunotherapy against sycamore pollen, which is possible with both scit and slit preparations, has a positive effect on food allergy (note: this is known to be the case with birch pollen-associated food allergies).

1. Asturias JA et al (2002): Purification and characterization of Pla a1, a major allergen from Platanus acerifolia pollen. Allergy 57: 221-227
2. Chen Z et al (2015) Characterization of two pollen allergens of the London plane tree in Shanghai. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 14:139-148.
3. Flores E et al (2012) Plant food allergy in patients with pollinosis from the Mediterranean area. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 159:346-354.
4. Miralles JC et al (2002): Cross-reactivity between Platanus pollen and vegetables. Allergy 57: 146-149