BACKGROUND: Type I allergy represents a severe health problem in industrialized countries where up to 20% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and allergic asthma bronchiale and in severe cases from anaphylaxis, leading to death. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate recombinant Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen for in vivo and in vitro diagnosis of birch pollen allergy. METHODS: A group of 51 birch pollen allergic patients and eight non-allergic...