Anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE are associated with early wheeze and atopy in an inner-city birth cohort.
BACKGROUND
The relationships between cockroach and mouse allergen exposure, anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE, and wheeze, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in children as young as age 3 years are of public health importance but have not been thoroughly evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that inner-city children might have anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE by age 3 years, and their presence would be associated with respiratory and atopic symptoms.


METHODS
Children were followed prospectively from birth through age 3 years (n = 404). Residential levels of cockroach and mouse allergens, sera levels of anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE, and parental report of wheeze, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were measured.


RESULTS
The odds of early wheeze were significantly higher among children who had IgE to cockroach (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.2), mouse (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.3-9.0), or both (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 3.4-27.3). The odds of rhinitis or atopic dermatitis were also higher among children with IgE to cockroach, mouse, or both. Higher IgE class to cockroach and mouse was associated with wheeze and atopic dermatitis (tests for trend, P < .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Children age 2 to 3 years who have anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE are at increased risk of wheeze and atopy. Moreover, a dose-response relationship was found between higher IgE class and increased prevalence of wheeze, rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. These findings indicate the importance of reducing exposure to cockroach and mouse allergens for susceptible children.
Donohue
Kathleen M
KM
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Al-alem
Umaima
U
Perzanowski
Matthew S
MS
Chew
Ginger L
GL
Johnson
Alina
A
Divjan
Adnan
A
Kelvin
Elizabeth A
EA
Hoepner
Lori A
LA
Perera
Frederica P
FP
Miller
Rachel L
RL
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003058:Cockroaches; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population
D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C035737:major urinary proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E