title: Allergies are associated with arterial changes in young children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation is important in atherosclerosis development. Whether common causes of inflammation, such as allergies and infections, already exert this influence in early childhood is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between both allergies and infections with children's vasculature.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a longitudinal study in a general population cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 390 five-year-olds of the WHISTLER (Wheezing-Illnesses-Study-LEidsche-Rijn) birth cohort, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness were obtained ultrasonographically. Physician-diagnosed allergies and infections and recent prescriptions of systemic antihistamines and antibiotics were obtained, as well as parental history of allergies. General linear regression was performed with vascular characteristics as dependent variables and measures of inflammation as independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having both a positive parental history of allergy and an allergy diagnosis showed 15.0 µm (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-27.8, p = 0.02) larger CIMT than not having such history and diagnosis. Having a positive parental history of allergy only showed 11.9 µm (0.87-23.0, p = 0.04) larger CIMT. Recent use of antihistamines and antibiotics showed 18.8 µm (1.6-35.9, p = 0.03) and 16.1 µm (4.5-27.7, p = 0.01) larger CIMT, respectively. Childhood infections were not clearly related to vascular parameters. Neither allergy nor infections were associated with arterial stiffness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An allergic predisposition is already associated with thicker arterial walls in early childhood.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands a.m.v.evelein@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Annemieke M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Evelein
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank L J
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Visseren
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cuno S P M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists
keywords: Allergy; cardiovascular risk factors; children; epidemiology; infection; inflammation