Saltwort
Allergy Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment

Also known by various terms such as common saltwort, prickly Russian thistle, tumbleweed, prickly saltwort, and Russian thistle, saltwort is a low herb standing 5 to 50 centimeters (approximately 2 to 20 inches) tall.¹ While common throughout the most arid and semiarid regions of the world, including regions of Canada and the United States, saltwort originated in Europe and Asia. Once the plant's seeds mature, the plant stem breaks off from the root to become a tumbleweed.² The annual plant pollinates via wind in the summer and fall and has a severe level of allergenicity.^2,3

Are there other allergens I could be sensitized to?*

Many patients with saltwort allergy can experience symptoms when exposed to other allergens such as tree, weed, or grass pollens, making it difficult to determine which pollen is causing the symptoms, especially when pollen seasons are overlapping. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins, or components, in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related, thus triggering a response.⁶ Other respiratory allergens that may cause reactions associated with saltwort are certain grasses, trees, and weeds, such as birch, alder, juniper, ragweed, olive, goosefoot, and pigweed.⁶

Knowing the proteins, or components, within each allergen that are triggering your symptoms can help guide your management plan. With that in mind, and based on your symptom history, your healthcare provider may suggest something called a specific IgE component test, which can help reveal other pollens and foods you may react to. Results from this test can also help your healthcare provider decide if allergen immunotherapy may reduce your symptoms.⁶

Already have your specific IgE component test results?

Your component test results will include the name of the components (a series of letters and numbers). Your healthcare provider will likely review the results with you, but here you'll find an at-a-glance breakdown you can use as a reference. Simply match the component names to the list below to see what they mean in terms of symptom management.⁶

nSal k 1 

• Indicates that symptoms may be caused by saltwort herb pollen.⁶
• Saltwort pollen immunotherapy may be considered.⁶

rPhl p 7

• Indicates symptoms may be caused by grass or by other pollen, e.g., from trees and weeds. Further investigation may be considered to confirm all allergy triggers.⁶
• May be associated with more severe symptoms and higher prevalence of asthma than other grass pollen allergies.

rPhl p 12

• Indicates that symptoms may be caused by grass or by other pollen, e.g., from trees and weeds.⁶

MUXF3 (CCD)

• Positive specific IgE for saltwort in combination with MUXF3 CCD (Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinant) being the only positive component test indicates that the cause of symptoms may be something other than saltwort pollen.⁶

Test results should be interpreted by your healthcare provider in the context of your clinical history. Final diagnosis and decision on further management is made by your healthcare provider.

*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.