title: Prediction of allergy from family history and cord blood IgE levels. A follow-up at the age of 5 years. Cord blood IgE. IV.
abstract: Screening of total IgE in 1189 cord blood samples was conducted by Phadebas IgE PRIST in a one-year birth cohort 1983-1984 in Viborg, Denmark. 113 children with cord blood IgE levels > or = 0.5 kU/l and 138 children chosen at random among those with cord blood IgE levels < 0.5 kU/l were seen at a follow-up at 5 years of age. Based upon history and physical examination a diagnosis of definite atopy or no atopy was established. Allergy (IgE mediated) was defined as atopic disease combined with increased total IgE levels at 5 years of age. The cumulative prevalence of atopic disease was not influenced by cord blood IgE levels or atopic predisposition. Cord blood IgE levels had a low sensitivity as a predictor of atopic disease. A statistically significant correlation between serum levels of IgE at birth and at 5 years was however found (p < 0.001), and a significantly greater number of children with elevated cord blood IgE levels developed allergic disease before 5 years of age (p < 0.01). A cut-off limit of 0.3 kU/l was superior to the originally suggested limit of 0.5 kU/l. A total IgE level > 63 kU/l (geometric mean + 1 SD) at the age of 5 years can be regarded as being an elevated level. A cord blood IgE level > or = 0.3 kU/l in combination with atopic predisposition was predictive of allergic disease, especially allergic bronchial asthma. With regard to allergic disease, the positive predictive value was 26%, the sensitivity 33% and the rate ratio for development of allergic disease 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Viborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halken
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Høst
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Osterballe
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E