Total and Specific IgE Associations between New York City Head Start Children and their Parents

Abstract

RationaleThis study examined associations between parent and child IgE levels and patterns of sensitization with the goal of identifying predictors of allergic risk in children.MethodsTotal and allergen-specific IgE (to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat) were determined by ImmunoCap (Phadia, Inc.) in families participating in New York City Head Start programs. Regression models were developed to determine the associations of parents' and children's total IgE levels and sensitization patterns, controlling for children's age, sex and national origin.ResultsBlood specimens were collected from 161 family triads of mother, father, and child (83 boys, 78 girls). At mean age four years, boys had significantly higher total IgE levels than girls. Boys' total IgE correlated well with both mothers' (p < .001) and fathers' (p = .001) total IgE; girls' did not. In contrast to the case for total IgE, both boys' and girls' specific IgE levels were associated with mothers' specific IgE. Dust mite sensitization among mothers was predictive of children's sensitization to each of the four aeroallergens.ConclusionsThe patterns of association between parental and child total IgE differ from those of specific IgE, possibly suggesting different relative contributions of genetics and environment to these two measures. The strong associations between parents' and children's IgE levels suggest that assessment of parental total and locally relevant allergen specific IgE may have value in predicting atopy in children of preschool age. RationaleThis study examined associations between parent and child IgE levels and patterns of sensitization with the goal of identifying predictors of allergic risk in children. This study examined associations between parent and child IgE levels and patterns of sensitization with the goal of identifying predictors of allergic risk in children. MethodsTotal and allergen-specific IgE (to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat) were determined by ImmunoCap (Phadia, Inc.) in families participating in New York City Head Start programs. Regression models were developed to determine the associations of parents' and children's total IgE levels and sensitization patterns, controlling for children's age, sex and national origin. Total and allergen-specific IgE (to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat) were determined by ImmunoCap (Phadia, Inc.) in families participating in New York City Head Start programs. Regression models were developed to determine the associations of parents' and children's total IgE levels and sensitization patterns, controlling for children's age, sex and national origin. ResultsBlood specimens were collected from 161 family triads of mother, father, and child (83 boys, 78 girls). At mean age four years, boys had significantly higher total IgE levels than girls. Boys' total IgE correlated well with both mothers' (p < .001) and fathers' (p = .001) total IgE; girls' did not. In contrast to the case for total IgE, both boys' and girls' specific IgE levels were associated with mothers' specific IgE. Dust mite sensitization among mothers was predictive of children's sensitization to each of the four aeroallergens. Blood specimens were collected from 161 family triads of mother, father, and child (83 boys, 78 girls). At mean age four years, boys had significantly higher total IgE levels than girls. Boys' total IgE correlated well with both mothers' (p < .001) and fathers' (p = .001) total IgE; girls' did not. In contrast to the case for total IgE, both boys' and girls' specific IgE levels were associated with mothers' specific IgE. Dust mite sensitization among mothers was predictive of children's sensitization to each of the four aeroallergens. ConclusionsThe patterns of association between parental and child total IgE differ from those of specific IgE, possibly suggesting different relative contributions of genetics and environment to these two measures. The strong associations between parents' and children's IgE levels suggest that assessment of parental total and locally relevant allergen specific IgE may have value in predicting atopy in children of preschool age. The patterns of association between parental and child total IgE differ from those of specific IgE, possibly suggesting different relative contributions of genetics and environment to these two measures. The strong associations between parents' and children's IgE levels suggest that assessment of parental total and locally relevant allergen specific IgE may have value in predicting atopy in children of preschool age.