Allergic Sensitization to Common Ragweed and Mugwort Pollen Allergens: A 6-Year Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Based on a 6-year longitudinal monitoring of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) responses to common ragweed (Ambrosia, Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and mugwort (Artemisia, Artemisia vulgaris) pollen allergens, this study systematically analyzed the sensitization trends of these two prevalent aeroallergen sources. The findings aim to provide evidence-based references for effective screening, early prevention, and targeted intervention in high-risk populations.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the test results of 2798 patients who underwent both common ragweed pollen-sIgE and mugwort pollen-sIgE testing at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2020 to December 2025. It explored the sensitization characteristics of these two allergens across different time periods, age groups, and genders and performed a comparative analysis of their sensitization profiles.

RESULTS

The case volume peaked in 2025, followed by 2022. The positive rates of common ragweed and mugwort pollen-sIgE exhibited a decreasing trend from 2020 to 2024, yet rebounded in 2025. The highest positive rate was observed in the 6-15 years age group, with the overall positive rate showing a downward trend as age increased. The number of male patients was significantly higher than that of female patients (χ2 = 15.22, p < 0.01). Moreover, the positive rates of common ragweed and mugwort pollen-sIgE were significantly higher in males than in females (common ragweed: χ2 = 9.17, p < 0.01; mugwort: χ2 = 15.22, p < 0.01). Among all positive cases (n = 673), 91.23% were sensitized to mugwort pollen allergens, 64.19% to common ragweed pollen allergens, and 55.42% to both allergens. For patients with dual positivity to common ragweed and mugwort pollen allergens (n = 373), the detection levels of mugwort-specific IgE were significantly higher than those of common ragweed-sIgE (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In 2025, the positive rates of common ragweed pollen-sIgE and mugwort pollen-sIgE in the Beijing area exhibited a rebound trend. Positive rates of common ragweed and mugwort pollen-sIgE decreased with increasing age, whereas they were significantly higher in males than in females. Mugwort pollen allergens demonstrated stronger allergenicity than common ragweed pollen allergens; nevertheless, the two allergens showed highly consistent sensitization trends. These findings also corroborate the cross-reactivity between common ragweed and mugwort pollen allergens documented in the literature. However, further investigations are warranted to characterize the specific cross-reactive components and to develop novel diagnostic reagents.