17 Sensitization to Betula verrucosa and RBET V1 in Spain.

Background Sensitization to Betula verrucosa pollen is common in North Central Europe. In Spain, it is also common in patients from Galicia, a region located in the Northwest of Spain. Birch trees are abundant in this region and several birch species have been described. The main objectives were to determine the differences in the IgE reactivity to B. verrucosa and rBet v 1 between patients from Sweden and Spain, as well as the contribution of the major allergen Bet v 1 to the overall reactivity of B. verrucosa. Allergenicity was also compared using a serum pool derived from sera of North American (USA) patients.