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Allergic diseases and asthma in relation to serum immunoglobulins and salivary immunoglobulin A in pre‐school children: a follow‐up community‐based study
Author(s) -
Lúðvíksson B. R.,
Arason G. J.,
Thorarensen O.,
Árdal B.,
Valdimarsson H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02141.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , immunoglobulin e , antibody , immunology , asthma , cohort study , immunoglobulin a , immunoglobulin g
Summary Background We have previously reported an association between low IgA and allergic manifestations in early childhood (0–2 years) and have now followed our cohort for an additional 2 years. Objective To evaluate in a longitudinal community‐based cohort study the association between maturation of Ig production and allergic manifestations in the first 4 years of life. Methods A cohort of 161 randomly selected children was followed from birth to the age of 42–48 months and evaluated at 18–23 months (EV1; n =179) and again at the age of 42–48 months (EV2; n =161). Diagnoses were made with the help of a clinical questionnaire, physical examination and skin prick tests (SPTs) to 10 common allergens. Serum immunoglobulins were measured at EV1 and EV2, and salivary IgA (sal‐IgA) at EV2. Results Serum IgA, IgE, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 increased from 2 to 4 years of age ( P <0.001) and their levels showed close correlations ( P 0.01 for most comparisons). Children with one or more positive SPTs had lower serum IgA ( P =0.004) and IgG4 ( P =0.05) at EV2 than those who did not respond, and children who developed allergic rhinitis between EV1 and EV2 had low sal‐IgA ( P =0.006) and IgG3 ( P <0.05) at EV2. Atopic eczema was associated with low sal‐IgA at EV2, and children who developed eczema between EV1 and EV2 had significantly lower sal‐IgA than those who recovered after EV1 ( P =0.02). Conclusion Allergic manifestations in predisposed children may be influenced by the rate of maturation of immunological components that counteract sensitization or inhibit effector mechanisms of allergy.