title: Inflammatory response and IgE sensitization at early age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microbial exposure may induce low-grade inflammation at an early age and decrease the risk of allergic diseases, as suggested by the hygiene hypothesis. We examined the associations between low-grade inflammation and the development of allergic sensitization, atopic dermatitis (AD), and asthma at the age of 4.5 yr.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 636 children participating in the PASTURE study in Finland, Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland. Data of environmental factors, doctor-diagnosed AD, and asthma were collected by questionnaire. The serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) values were measured at the age of 1 yr, and serum-specific IgE concentrations (sIgE) at the age of one and 4.5 yr. Analyses were made by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of allergic sensitization at the age of 4.5 yr was decreased in children who had increased CRP levels at the age of 1 yr (level in the highest vs. lowest quartile: aOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.95; p = 0.014). The risk of AD and asthma was not significantly related to CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings confirm that elevated levels of CRP at early age showed association with decreased allergic sensitization later in life. Our results suggest that poor inflammatory response could predispose for IgE sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland. kirsi.mustonen@thl.fi
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orivuori
authors.forename: Leea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keski-Nisula
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyvärinen
authors.forename: Petra Ina
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Pfefferle
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riedler
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dalphin
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Genuneit
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lauener
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roduit
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braun-Fahrländer
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaub
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Mutius
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vaarala
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein