Narrative reviewindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-VEG-138 standard review
Profilin links pollen allergy and melon-family allergy
Profilin, a Change in the Paradigm.
Overview
Rodríguez Del Río P et al.. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2018 · PMID 28760720 · DOI 10.18176/jiaci.0193
Profilin, present in all plant foods, is particularly associated with allergy to grass pollen and melon-family fruits.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Review profilin allergy.
- How was the study done?
Narrative review.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable.
- What was actually found?
Associated with Cucurbitaceae allergy.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Relevant for pollen-allergic people only.
- What are the study's limitations?
Narrative.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports subgroup claim.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
European.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
No prevalence data.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Rodríguez Del Río P et al.
- Journal
- J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol
- Year
- 2018
- Identifier
- PMID 28760720 DOI 10.18176/jiaci.0193
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
What is the clinical role of profilin as an allergen?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Narrative review – Narrative review
- Population
Pollen-, latex- and plant-food-allergic patients
- Country
Spain (authors)
- Period
not applicable
- Sample size
not applicable
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
not stated in abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Profilin sensitisation
- Comparator
not applicable
- Endpoints
Clinical relevance, cross-reactivity
- Statistical methods
Narrative
5. Actual results
- Results
Profilin is present in all pollens and vegetables and is significantly associated with allergy to grass pollen and Cucurbitaceae fruits; under certain circumstances may be a marker of severity; recognition follows a north-south gradient.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Current data support a paradigm shift: profilin should be taken into account as a clinically relevant allergen.
6. Strengths
- Up-to-date expert synthesis
7. Weaknesses
- Narrative
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Narrative review.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
not applicable
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Confirms the profilin-Cucurbitaceae association in sensitised people; more relevant in southern Europe (north-south gradient).
11. Independent contrary findings
none
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
European.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Supports the claim for sensitised individuals.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Prevalence in Egypt.
15. Linked fact checks
- Cucurbits (melon, watermelon, cucumber, zucchini) carry profilin allergens that cause cross-allergy. – Studies supporting the claim