title: Cord serum IgE: an insensitive method for prediction of atopy.
abstract: Cord total serum IgE has been advocated as a screening test to detect infants at high risk of allergy who would be suitable for preventive measures. In a population based prospective study to look at the predictive capacity of cord IgE and family history of atopy 1111 one-year-old infants were followed-up. Cord IgE was measured using the EIA ultra technique (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Atopic symptoms developed in 255 (23%) at one year, 183 (16.5%) had probable atopy (clinical disorder but negative skin prick test (SPT)) and 72 (6.5%) had definite atopy (clinical disorder with positive SPT). There was no difference in the mean cord IgE levels in infants with or without atopic manifestations. The cut-off for IgE was taken at 0.6 ku/1. The specificity of the test was 92% but the sensitivity was only 8.5%. The positive and negative predictive values were 24% and 78% respectively. Family history of atopy is far more sensitive in detecting infants at risk of atopy and little is added by knowledge of cord IgE.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Allergy Research Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight, U.K.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hide
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Twiselton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007073:Immunoglobulin E