Cytomegalovirus infection and development of allergic diseases in early childhood: interaction with EBV infection?
BACKGROUND
Chronic replication of cytomegalovirus and EBV in early life may affect the immune system and play a role in the development of allergy in children.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between cytomegalovirus infection and allergic disorders in children, including a possible interaction with EBV infection.


METHODS
From a prospective birth cohort study in Stockholm, on factors of importance for development of allergy, 2581 four-year-old children were enrolled. The classification of allergic diseases was based on questionnaire answers and determination of IgE antibodies to common airborne and food allergens. IgG to cytomegalovirus was determined by a commercial ELISA and to EBV by indirect immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
A total of 1191 (46%) children were cytomegalovirus-seropositive. There were no significant associations between seropositivity to cytomegalovirus and allergic manifestations, such as bronchial asthma, suspected allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. Seropositivity to cytomegalovirus alone, ie, without seropositivity to EBV, was related to IgE antibodies to airborne and food allergens (adjusted odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9). An antagonism between cytomegalovirus and EBV in relation to sensitization to airborne and food allergens was suggested ( P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The study does not support the hypothesis that previous cytomegalovirus infection plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, suspected allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis in children. However, in the absence of EBV infection, cytomegalovirus infection may be related to sensitization to airborne and food allergens.
Sidorchuk
Anna
A
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.
Wickman
Magnus
M
Pershagen
Göran
G
Lagarde
Frédéric
F
Linde
Annika
A
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology