Аllergies in Families of Moscow (Russia) Newborns: Suspected Cases within Three Generations Framework

Abstract

Background: Allergy prevalence in parents of newborns is an indicator of allergic diseases in children, which is split upon parent’s gender and allergic conditions. Objective: to find out gender patterns within a larger framework of allergies in grandparents, aunts, uncles of newborns in maternal and paternal families. Methods: In 2011 13 visits to the Postnatal Department of Moscow No.1 Maternity Hospital were carried out. All women delivered within the preceding 48 hours were interviewed. Mothers provided us with information on relatives of a newborn in regards to clinical manifestations of food allergies, atopic dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, angioedema, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma and episodes of drug allergy. Information on 3534 relatives from 393 newborns was collected. Results: The rate of suspected allergic conditions in grandfathers is the same in both maternal and paternal families (4,35% 95%CI 1,99-6,70 and 4,62% 95%CI 2,12-7,12 respectively), but in grandmothers and aunts the rate of suspected allergic incidence is increased in maternal family (11,54% 95%CI 8,58-14,50) over paternal (6,80% 95%CI 4,46-9,14). The cumulative rate of suspected allergies in grandfathers+fathers+uncles (i.e. in male relatives of two preceding the newborns generations) is significantly lower (8,57% 95%CI 7,03-10,11) than in grandmothers+mothers+aunts (i.e. in female relatives of two preceding the newborns generations) (13,28% 95%CI 11,44-15,13) (p < .05). Conclusion: There are clear gender differences with increased prevalence of suspected allergic conditions in female relatives of two preceding the newborn generations compared with male relatives. There is a tendency to increased suspected allergic manifestations among women of maternal relatives in comparison to paternal relatives.