2020 Volume 34 Issue 5 Pages 530-536
Background: The implications of sensitization in utero have not been elucidated to date.
Objective: To investigate the association between neonatal allergen-specific IgE, measured by a highly sensitive method, and sensitization or occurrence of food allergy (FA) during infancy.
Method: This birth cohort study included 125 unselected infants. Allergen-specific IgE in neonatal blood was measured by a highly sensitive densely carboxylated protein chip. The infants underwent a physical examination and skin prick test (SPT) at 6 and 12 months of age. Their parents completed a questionnaire at 0, 1, 6, and 12 months.
Results: Among 125 neonatal blood samples, 105 (84%) showed allergen-specific IgE against at least one of the tested antigens. Approximately 50% of our samples contained elevated egg white-specific IgE levels. Neonatal allergen-specific IgE was not associated with SPT or occurrence of FA during infancy. No association was observed between maternal egg consumption and neonatal egg-specific IgE levels. Dermatitis during early infancy was positively associated with SPT and FA on univariate analysis, and with SPT on multiple logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion: No association was found between neonatal allergen-specific IgE and sensitization or FA during infancy. Our results suggest that FA-related sensitization develops after birth.
