PARTIAL CORRELATIONS OF GRASS FAMILY (POACEAE) ANTIGENS

Abstract

Seventy-five antigens were intradermally skin-tested on 817 allergy patients using the Optimal Dose Method (Provocation-Neutralization Technique) to determine which antigens were likely to co-occur with antigens of the grass family (Poaceae). Statistical analysis of the skin test data using partial correlations (significance level <.01) determined intra-relationships between grass family members and inter-relationships between grass family members and both plant and animal antigens. Grasses correlated with each other and the rice antigen. Corn, cane sugar, grass mixes, oat, rice and wheat demonstrated intrafamilial correlations of various magnitudes. Grass family members correlated with distant families of food and pollen antigens. Apple, bovine (beef, milk and cheese), chicken (egg), yeast, Trichophyton-Odiomycin-Epidermophyton (TOE), chocolate, grape (raisin), goldenrod, honey, lettuce, marshelder, oak, orange, pea, pecan pollen, peanut, potato, privet, ragweed, soybean, string bean, tomato, and several pollen mixes were found to correlate with grass family antigens. Clinical observations, laboratory cross-reactivity experiments and computerized studies in immunology and taxonomy support these data. Partial correlations of intradermal skin test data using the Optimal Dose Method demonstrated the likelihood of co-occurring allergies. These correlations also suggested the likelihood of cross-reactivity of the co-occurring antigens.