Determinants of Aeroallergen-specific IgE in a New York Birth Cohort of Puerto Rican Children

Abstract

RationaleCompared with other Latino groups, Puerto Rican children have a high prevalence of asthma and differing patterns of allergic sensitization.MethodsWith an inner-city birth cohort of 274 New York City-born Puerto Rican children selected on maternal history of atopy/asthma settled dust levels of cockroach, mouse, cat, and dust mite allergen and the development of specific IgE against these four aeroallergens are being measured. To date, we have allergen-specific IgE for 82 children who have reached age 4 and their mothers.ResultsBy age 4, 23% of the children were seroatopic (i.e. ≥0.35 IU/ml to any of the measured aeroallergen), specifically sensitized to cockroaches (7%), mice (7%), cats (10%), and dust mites (10%). Children had greater odds of seroatopy when mothers were sensitized to dust mites (OR = 4.0 [1.3-12.1]) or cats (OR = 3.3 [1.1-9.7]). Neither maternal cockroach nor mouse sensitization was significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Allergen concentrations in dust were not significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Nonetheless, none of the 12 children who were born into a home with cats developed IgE to any of the aeroallergens as compared with 27% seroatopy among those who were not born in a home with a cat.ConclusionsPuerto Rican children whose mothers are sensitized to dust mites or cats have greater odds of developing IgE specific for at least one of the tested indoor allergens. Cat ownership appeared to be inversely associated with sensitization at this age. Further study of this cohort will examine how socio-cultural factors influence allergic sensitization. RationaleCompared with other Latino groups, Puerto Rican children have a high prevalence of asthma and differing patterns of allergic sensitization. Compared with other Latino groups, Puerto Rican children have a high prevalence of asthma and differing patterns of allergic sensitization. MethodsWith an inner-city birth cohort of 274 New York City-born Puerto Rican children selected on maternal history of atopy/asthma settled dust levels of cockroach, mouse, cat, and dust mite allergen and the development of specific IgE against these four aeroallergens are being measured. To date, we have allergen-specific IgE for 82 children who have reached age 4 and their mothers. With an inner-city birth cohort of 274 New York City-born Puerto Rican children selected on maternal history of atopy/asthma settled dust levels of cockroach, mouse, cat, and dust mite allergen and the development of specific IgE against these four aeroallergens are being measured. To date, we have allergen-specific IgE for 82 children who have reached age 4 and their mothers. ResultsBy age 4, 23% of the children were seroatopic (i.e. ≥0.35 IU/ml to any of the measured aeroallergen), specifically sensitized to cockroaches (7%), mice (7%), cats (10%), and dust mites (10%). Children had greater odds of seroatopy when mothers were sensitized to dust mites (OR = 4.0 [1.3-12.1]) or cats (OR = 3.3 [1.1-9.7]). Neither maternal cockroach nor mouse sensitization was significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Allergen concentrations in dust were not significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Nonetheless, none of the 12 children who were born into a home with cats developed IgE to any of the aeroallergens as compared with 27% seroatopy among those who were not born in a home with a cat. By age 4, 23% of the children were seroatopic (i.e. ≥0.35 IU/ml to any of the measured aeroallergen), specifically sensitized to cockroaches (7%), mice (7%), cats (10%), and dust mites (10%). Children had greater odds of seroatopy when mothers were sensitized to dust mites (OR = 4.0 [1.3-12.1]) or cats (OR = 3.3 [1.1-9.7]). Neither maternal cockroach nor mouse sensitization was significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Allergen concentrations in dust were not significantly associated with children's seroatopy. Nonetheless, none of the 12 children who were born into a home with cats developed IgE to any of the aeroallergens as compared with 27% seroatopy among those who were not born in a home with a cat. ConclusionsPuerto Rican children whose mothers are sensitized to dust mites or cats have greater odds of developing IgE specific for at least one of the tested indoor allergens. Cat ownership appeared to be inversely associated with sensitization at this age. Further study of this cohort will examine how socio-cultural factors influence allergic sensitization. Puerto Rican children whose mothers are sensitized to dust mites or cats have greater odds of developing IgE specific for at least one of the tested indoor allergens. Cat ownership appeared to be inversely associated with sensitization at this age. Further study of this cohort will examine how socio-cultural factors influence allergic sensitization.