Botanical taxonomy as a guide to cross-reactivity in pollen allergy

Pollen antigenic extracts of related plants have a number of common protein antigens. Such extracts used in allergy tests elicit numerous positive reactions due to the presence of the common antigens. In the present paper pollen antigenic extracts of related plants have been listed together. This list, in contrast to the alphabetical list of pollen antigens now available with clinicians in India, will reflect an arrangement of extracts with common antigens and those likely to cross-react. A clinician using the proposed list will be able to objectively interpret the cross-reactions, assess their clinical relevance and even identify the original sensitizer(s).