33 THE FOLLOW-UP OF SPECIFIC IgE IN THE CONTROL OF ALLERGIC DISEASE

Abstract

Allergic disease is very common in children. The disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms. When a child is referred to the pediatrician, the allergy has caused many problems. The sensitization to the different allergens has already taken place. The avoidance of allergens results in a decrease of symptoms. Since five year we follow-up the development of specific IgE for food and inhaled allergens in patients with a family history of atopy. In a group of young children we could demonstrate that the development of specific IgE for inhaled allergens was proceeded by specific IgE for food allergens even before allergic symptoms of the respiratory tract existed. In a group of older children with pollen asthma we found in 88% of the patients specific IgE for peanuts. These findings give rise to several questions. Is a strong immunological reaction to food in the first years of life a basis for a strong immunological reactivity for inhaled allergens later on? Are there different routes in sensitization for the same allergen? How can these processes be influenced? These questions formed the basis for our investigations and the study (see abstract P.G. Calkhoven) of the significance of cross-reactions between food and inhaled allergens.