The temporal sequence of allergic sensitization and onset of infantile eczema.
BACKGROUND
Eczema is commonly associated with sensitization in infants, but the causative role of sensitization in the development of eczema has been questioned.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if allergic sensitization increases the risk of developing eczema, or alternatively, if eczema increases the risk of developing allergic sensitization.


METHODS
We used data from the Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study, a prospective birth cohort of 552 infants with a family history of atopic disease. The main outcomes were risk of developing eczema from 6 months to 7 years of age in asymptomatic infants; and risk of developing sensitization, as measured by skin prick tests to milk, egg white, peanut, house dust mite, rye grass pollen and cat extracts, in previously unsensitized infants.


RESULTS
Sensitization to food extracts at 6 months was associated with an increased risk of developing eczema [hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.35] up to 7 years of age, after excluding infants with eczema in the first 6 months. However, eczema in the first 6 months was also associated with increased risk of new sensitization at both 1 year (HR 2.34, 1.38-3.98) and 2 years (HR 3.47, 1.65-7.32).


CONCLUSIONS
In some infants, sensitization precedes and predicts the development of eczema, while in others eczema precedes and predicts the development of sensitization. This indicates that there are multiple pathways to atopic eczema.
Lowe
A J
AJ
Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, The University of Melbourne, and Department of Allergy, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. lowe.adrian@gmail.com
Abramson
M J
MJ
Hosking
C S
CS
Carlin
J B
JB
Bennett
C M
CM
Dharmage
S C
SC
Hill
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors