SummaryThis work describes three patients suffering from bronchial asthma after being naturally exposed to airborne plane‐tree pollen. The three patients gave immediate response in skin tests and dual response in bronchial provocations usingPlatanus hybridaextract. There was specific seric IgE activity against this/these antigen(s) with the CAP system. The three patients also showed significant correlation (P<0·001) between their rhinitis and asthma symptom‐scores registered on their diary cards and plane‐tree pollen counts, collected using the Burkard spore trap. Among 187 patients living in Madrid and who came to our centre with a history of rhinitis and/or seasonal asthma, we found a prevalence of positive skin‐prick tests toPlatanusof 56, only surpassed by gramineous pollen (Dactylis glomerataand/orTrisetum paniceum)92 andOlea europaea63. The aerobiological sampling of the pollen content of the air in Madrid, carried out between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1993 revealed an airborne presence (per cent of total yearly pollen count, mean of 1979–1993) of 14·9 for thePlatanus, 14·8 for grasses, 9·8 forOleaand 3·6 forPlantago. ThePlatanusis one of the most frequently found pollens in the atmosphere over Madrid. At present, in this geographical area, a high percentage of patients with pollinosis are sensitive to this pollen. At least in some of these patientsPlatanuspollen is capable of inducing rhinitis and br
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