Is thrombopenia in cord blood indicative of intra-uterine sensitization?
The relation between platelet counts (PCT) and IgE was studied in cord blood from 136 European newborns. PCT was significantly lower (P = 0.0014) when cord-IgE was superior to 1.20 IU/ml (n = 29; 245,000/microliter) than when it was inferior to this value (n = 107; 284,080/microliter) which resulted in a significant negative Spearman rank correlation between PCT and cord-IgE (P = 0.002; rs = -0.25). A follow-up by questionnaire in 97 of the newborns revealed that those newborns who had developed definite atopy within 18 months of age had significantly (P = 0.002) lower PCT at birth (n = 8; 196,000/microliter) than those free of atopic symptoms (n = 61; 286,000/microliters). Further newborns to atopic mothers (n = 23; 245,000/microliters) had significantly (P = 0.014) lower PCT than newborns to non-atopic mothers (n = 74; 286,000/microliters). The lowest PCT was recorded when both the mother was atopic and the newborn had developed definite or probable atopy by the age of 18 months (n = 7; 175,000/microliters) as compared to atopy alone in mothers (n = 16; 276,000/microliters; P = 0.005), to atopy alone in infants (n = 9; 281,000/microliters; P = 0.005) and to non-atopic infants of non-atopic mothers (n = 65; 286,000/microliters; P = 0.0007). Significantly (P = 0.03) lower PCT amongst boys (n = 49; 259,000/microliters) compared with girls (n = 48; 294,000/microliters) was attributed to the higher incidence of elevated cord-IgE and infant atopy among boys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Magnusson
C G
CG
Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
de Weck
A L
AL
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D011374:Progesterone