Vine pollen allergy in areas with a high density of vineyards.

Background: In Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, the area with the highest density of vineyards in the world, 2 cases of Vitis vinifera pollen allergy have been previously reported.

Objective: To determine the clinical relevance and biochemical characteristics of vine pollen in the Spanish province of Ciudad Real.

Methods: We designed a prospective study of patients treated in the allergy units from Puertollano and Ciudad Real for respiratory symptoms of 4 months' duration in the year 2000.