IgE and lymphocyte function in small children as allergy predictors
Björkstén, B.
Zeitschrift für Hautkrankheiten 59(12): 817-825
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-0481 PMID: 6464527 Document Number: 225871
Several recent studies have shown that infants with a high risk for subsequent development of allergic disease can be identified already at birth by the fact that they have increased levels of S-IgE. Thus, in a prospective Swedish study of 1651 newborn infants showed that 85% of those children with a cord blood IgE of more than 0.9 kU/l developed obvious or probable allergic disease during the first 6 years of life. IgE determinations can be done with the help of cord blood, venous blood or capillary blood obtained during the neonatal period. Results of numerous experiments in animals suggest that part of the explanation for the increased risk of developing allergic diseases is that certain infants have a congenital deficiency in their IgE regulation, probably a defective capacity of T-cell mediated IgE suppression. It is also reasonable to suggest that these high risk babies should be subject to intense prophylactic measures in order to prevent, or at least to delay the onset of clinical symptoms. Such preventive measures should include breast feeding, strict avoidance of allergenic foodstuff during the first 4-6 months of life, no furred pets as well as no tobacco smoking in the surroundings of the babies. In order to achieve all this, a continuous strong support of the family is necessary. Allergy prevention is time-consuming, and the application of protein hydrolysate formulas instead of human milk is expensive. Unwarranted use of hypoallergenic diets may also results in malnutrition. For all these reasons, risk infants subject to prevention should be identified early and only these babies should be subject to a prevention program.