Studies on Early Allergic Sensitization in the Lithuanian Birth Cohort

• Published in: TheScientificWorld Vol. 2012; no. 2012; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Butiene, Indre, Rudzeviciene, Odilija, Sezaite, Indre, Petronyte, Malvina, Vaicekauskaite, Dalia, Zvirbliene, Aurelija, Dubakiene, Ruta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Puplishing Corporation 01-01-2012; The Scientific World Journal; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Allergens; Allergic reaction; Allergies; Allergy; Antibiotics; Asthma; Atopic dermatitis; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Case-Control Studies; Childbirth & labor; Cohort Studies; Demographic aspects; Dermatitis; Diet; Dietary supplements; DNA sequencing; Eczema; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental impact; Environmental risk; Families & family life; Family medical history; Female; Food; Food allergies; Food Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Food Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Genetic aspects; Genetic research; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - diagnosis; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunology; In vivo methods and tests; Infant; Infant Formula - chemistry; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - immunology; Infants; Lithuania - epidemiology; Male; Newborn babies; Nucleotide sequencing; Pediatrics; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Rhinoconjunctivitis; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Skin Tests; Smoke; Smoking - adverse effects; Sociodemographics; Studies; Time Factors; Tobacco; Weaning; Young Adult; Lithuania
• ISSN: 2356-6140; 1537-744X; 1537-744X
• DOI: 10.1100/2012/909524

Cohort studies are of great importance in defining the mechanism responsible for the development of allergy-associated diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Although these disorders share genetic and environmental risk factors, it is still under debate whether they are linked or develop sequentially along an atopic pathway. The current study was aimed to determine the pattern of allergy sensitization in the Lithuanian birth cohort “Alergemol” (n = 1558) established as a part of the multicenter European birth cohort “EuroPrevall”. Early sensitization to food allergens in the “Alergemol” birth cohort was analysed. The analysis revealed 1.3% and 2.8% of symptomatic-sensitized subjects at 6 and 12 months of age, respectively. The sensitization pattern in response to different allergens in the group of infants with food allergy symptoms was studied using allergological methods in vivo and in vitro. The impact of maternal and environmental risk factors on the early development of food allergy in at 6 and 12 months of age was evaluated. Our data showed that maternal diet, diseases, the use of antibiotics, and tobacco smoke during pregnancy had no significant impact on the early sensitization to food allergens. However, infants of atopic mothers were significantly more often sensitized to egg as compared to the infants of nonatopic mothers.