title: Clustering of allergic outcomes within families and households in areas endemic for helminth infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergy and helminth infections share key immunological features in terms of Th2 responses. Although in industrialized countries clustering of allergic disorders within families has been frequently reported, such information is lacking from areas where helminth infections are endemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 466 subjects from 29 families and 112 households participated in this study. Filarial infection, skin test reactivity and IgE to mite as well as total IgE were measured in all samples. Clustering of the allergy-related outcomes due to genetic and household factors was tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genetic factors contributed significantly to the clustering of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE, whereas only household factors contributed to the clustering of SPT positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to several studies conducted in western populations, total IgE and allergen-specific IgE are influenced by genetic factors in a population resident in a helminth endemic area. However, clustering of SPT positivity due to genetic factors was not significant in the current study raising the question of whether the presence of helminth infections may override genes that are associated with the expression of tissue reactivity to allergens in the west.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sitti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wahyuni
authors.forename: Erliyani
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sartono
authors.forename: Taniawati
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Supali
authors.forename: Jaring S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Andarias
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangali
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Ree
authors.forename: Jeanine J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Houwing-Duistermaat
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazdanbakhsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E