Early-life EBV infection protects against persistent IgE sensitization.
J Allergy Clin Immunol
; 125(2): 433-8, 2010 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19963258
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Infection with EBV has previously been implicated in influencing allergic disorders, but its precise role remains contradictory. The timing of primary infection may contribute to the discrepancies.OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed at investigating whether the time-point of primary EBV infection during childhood could be of importance in modulating the risk of developing IgE sensitization.METHODS:
A total of 219 Swedish infants were followed prospectively to 5 years of age with clinical examinations, skin prick testing, specific IgE analyses, and determination of serostatus against EBV.RESULTS:
After analysis of the children's EBV serostatus, we found that 5-year-olds who were infected with EBV before the age of 2 years were at a significantly lower risk of being persistently IgE-sensitized-that is, sensitized at both 2 and 5 years of age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.94). In contrast, contraction of EBV after 2 years of age was highly associated with late-onset IgE sensitization (adjusted odds ratio, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.57-13.69). Persistently sensitized 5-year-olds had higher specific-IgE levels than children with late-onset IgE sensitization (P < .01).CONCLUSION:
Our data support the value of early-life microbial exposure for protection against the development of IgE sensitization and underscore the proximate postnatal years as an important period during which EBV could contribute to an allergo-protective immune profile.
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Imunoglobulina E
/
Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr
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Hipersensibilidade
Limite:
Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article