title: IgE food sensitization in infants with eczema attending a dermatology department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because community-based studies, which report IgE food sensitization (IgE-FS) in more than 80% of infants with moderate atopic eczema, may be influenced by referral bias, we assessed the prevalence of IgE-FS in a cohort of infants with moderate atopic eczema attending a dermatology department clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive infants (n = 51, 39 males; median age, 34 weeks; range, 20 to 51 weeks) with moderate atopic eczema referred to a university-affiliated dermatology department were studied prospectively. Clinical history and eczema severity were documented. IgE-FS was assessed by the skin prick test (SPT; n = 51) and food-specific serum IgE antibodies (CAP-FEIA test; n = 41). IgE-FS was diagnosed if the SPT or CAP-FEIA level exceeded the >95% predictive reference cutoff for positive food challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on SPT, 44 of 51 infants (86%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 74% to 94%) had IgE-FS (cow's milk, 16%; egg, 73%; peanut, 51%). Using age-specific 95%-predictive cutoff values, CAP-FEIA identified 34 of 41 infants (83%; 95% CI = 68% to 93%) with IgE-FS (cow's milk, 23%; egg, 80%). Forty-six (90%) infants had IgE-FS to at least 1 food item by either SPT or CAP-FEIA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atopic eczema was found to be closely associated with IgE-FS in infants attending a dermatology department.
authors: Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. dave.hill@bigpond.com
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Hill
authors: Ralf G
authors: RG
authors: Heine
authors: Cliff S
authors: CS
authors: Hosking
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Brown
authors: Leone
authors: L
authors: Thiele
authors: Katrina J
authors: KJ
authors: Allen
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Su
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Varigos
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Carlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E