Patterns of aeroallergen sensitization predicting risk for asthma in preschool children with atopic dermatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder mostly affecting young children. Although several studies aimed to identify the risk factors for asthma in AD children, many aspects still need to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible risk factors for asthma at school age in 99 children with early-onset and IgE-mediated AD.


METHODS
All children performed clinical evaluation and total and specific IgE assay for a panel of inhalant and food allergens at two different times (t1 and t2) during preschool, and asthma diagnosis was assessed at one follow-up visit (t3) at school age.


RESULTS
At t3, 39% of children had developed asthma. Of the variables compared, the sensitization to more than one class of inhalant allergens at t2 (mean age = 30 months) was associated with asthma, with grass (OR = 3.24, p = 0.020) and cat sensitization (OR = 2.74, p = 0.043) as independent risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitization pattern of a child with early-onset AD, also within the first 2-3 years of life, can reflect his risk to develop asthma. Therefore, testing these children for the more common allergens during this time frame should be recommended to predict the evolution of atopic diseases.
Pediatric Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy and.
Elisabetta
E
Calamelli
Giampaolo
G
Ricci
Iria
I
Neri
Lorenza
L
Ricci
Roberto
R
Rondelli
Andrea
A
Pession
Annalisa
A
Patrizi
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D012307:Risk Factors
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
Atopic disease; IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis; inhalant allergens; risk factors; skin; specific IgE