ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AS DETERMINANTS OF CHILDHOOD ATOPY

本研究的目的是前瞻性地评估 空气中变应原暴露强度 和过敏性敏感性的发展（产生 过敏原特异性IgE）在80名儿童的队列中， 从出生到四岁。 被选中参加研究的儿童将 根据脐带血浓度升高， IgE浓度大于或等于0.6 u/ml。 五种吸入性过敏原的数量， 儿童最常成为敏感，将在 每月从每个孩子的卧室使用一个小的空气样本， 容量空气采样器和ELISA抑制测定。 的 选择的过敏原是：猫、狗螨、豚草和timothery。 被认为与特应性风险相关的其他变量; 烟草烟雾暴露、喂养史和呼吸道感染 感染，也将进行研究，以确定是否有任何或 这些变量对吸入性过敏的风险贡献更大 过敏原暴露的强度。 烟草烟雾暴露 将通过测量尿可替宁浓度进行定量 每两个月一次 儿童的喂养史和 呼吸道疾病将在每月的访谈中记录 以标准化的方式。 过敏性疾病的发作和程度 将通过测量血清浓度来确定致敏性 过敏原特异性IgE的浓度，相同的五个 每六个月过敏一次。 收集的数据将进行分析，以确定强度是否 过敏原暴露是最重要的风险因素， 在遗传易感的 人口 我们还将研究是否存在关键的 暴露强度，低于该强度， 发生和是否暴露的强度和程度 敏感性是相关的。 这些问题的答案 应该表明环境控制的程度 这些措施可以降低过敏性致敏的风险。 这 信息在减少上升的努力中很重要。 儿童哮喘和其他过敏性疾病的流行率。

The purpose of this research is to prospectively evaluated the relationship between the intensity of airborne allergen exposure and the development of allergic sensitivity (production of allergen specific IgE) in a cohort of 80 children followed from birth to four years of age. The children selected for study will have a high genetic risk of atopy based on an elevated cord blood IgE concentration of greater than or equal to 0.6 u/ml. The quantities of the five inhalant allergens, to which young children most commonly become sensitized, will be measured in monthly air samples from each child's bedroom using a small volumetric air sampler, and an ELISA inhibition assay. The allergens selected are: cat, dog mite, ragweed, and timothery. Other variables thought to be related to the risk of atopy; tobacco smoke exposure, feeding history, and respiratory infections, will also be studied to determine whether any or these variables contribute more to the risk of inhalant allergy than intensity of allergen exposure. Tobacco smoke exposure will be quantitated by measuring urinary cotinine concentrations every two months. The child's feeding history and history of respiratory illnesses will be recorded during monthly interviews in a standardized fashion. The onset and degree of allergic sensitization will be determined by measuring serum concentrations of allergen specific IgE, to the same five allergens every six months. The data collected will be analyzed to determine if the intensity of allergen exposure is the most important risk factor for the development of allergic sensitization in a genetically susceptible population. We will also examine whether there is a critical intensity of exposure below which sensitization is unlikely to occur and whether the intensity of exposure and degree of sensitization are correlated. The answers to these questions should suggest the degree to which environmental control measures could reduced the risk of allergic sensitization. This information is important in the effort to reduce the rising prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases among children.