RAGWEED ALLERGY IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA - IN THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC

Allergy to ragweed pollen and other weeds is a global problem due to the rapid spread of these grasses around the world. In addition, pollen of short ragweed (Ambrosia, Amb) and mugwort (Artemisia, Art) - one of the main causes of respiratory allergy - seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) with/without bronchial asthma patients living in the South of Russia. Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of Allergy to Amb and Art among patients living in Chechen Republic, absent. Aim - of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of sensitization to weed pollen in patients of Chechnya. We surveyed аllergy (skin prick tests with 13 inhalant allergens) from 845 patients aged 4-68 years, in Urus-Martan for the period 2013-2016 yrs. Polisensitization was defined as the presence of positive skin tests to 2 or more extracts of different groups of allergens. ~26% and 21% of patients in the Chechen Republic have an allergy to Amb and Art, respectively. Further studies at the molecular level will help to establish the geographical variation of the sensitization profile to the major component of Amb and Art, which could have clinical significance in the proper selection of specific immunotherapy.