Soluble CD30 and CD23 in cord blood are not related to atopy in early childhood.

Atopic disease, including atopic dermatitis (AD), is associated with a T-helper 2 (Th2)-dependent immune response. The cytokine receptor CD30 appears to be preferentially expressed on, and its soluble form (sCD30) released by, Th2 cells. Therefore, sCD30 may be a potential marker for atopic disorders. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the sCD30 level in cord blood could be used to predict the development of atopy or AD in early childhood. In a case-control study, levels of sCD30, as well as soluble low-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (sCD23), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IgE, were measured in cord blood in 35 children who subsequently developed allergic sensitization and AD before the age of three, and the results were compared to those of 35 matched children without a history of atopy. There was no difference in cord blood levels of sCD30 between controls (32.5 U/ml; 19.7-80.1) and children with subsequent atopy and AD (32.2 U/ml; 22-75.9) (median; quartiles). The concentration of sCD30 showed no relation to the levels of total IgE, sCD23 or IL-4. Levels of sCD23 were similar in children with subsequent atopy (60.2 U/ml; 44.5-76.8) and controls (55.2 U/ml; 38.3-72.5), whereas IL-4 was detectable in 10 of the atopic children and in only two of the controls (p <0.05). In conclusion, cord blood levels of sCD30 or sCD23 do not seem to be related to the subsequent development of atopy or AD at the age of three.

[Congenital myotonic dystrophy]. / Dystrophia myotonica congenita.

Congenital myotonic dystrophy is a distinct entity causing severe hypotonia and other neuromuscular manifestations. The disease is usually inherited from the mother and shows a more severe course than the adult form of dystrophia myotonica. Congenital myotonic dystrophy is associated with increased perinatal mortality. We describe a case with this disorder and discuss the differential diagnosis in relation to other neuromuscular disorders causing hypotonia in early life.

[Crib death and smoking during pregnancy]. / Krybbedød og røyking i svangerskapet.

In this study, perinatal data from 73 children with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and 73 matched controls were compared. Birthweight, length and circumference of the head were significantly smaller in cases of SIDS. The odds ratio for SIDS when mothers who had smoked 1-10 cigarettes per day were compared with non-smokers was 2.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-5.7). The odds ratio was 6.2 (95% confidence interval: 2.8-14.1) when the mother had smoked more than ten cigarettes daily during pregnancy. Approximately 40% of all pregnant women still smoke during pregnancy. The challenge is to pass on this information in a proper way in order to reduce/stop smoking during pregnancy.

[Crib death among children born during 1985-1989 at the Rogeland Central Hospital]. / Krybbedød i fødselspopulasjonen 1985-89 ved Sentralsjukehuset i Rogaland.

73 cases of sudden, unexpected death in infants were diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome according to the criteria defined by the author. All were born at the Rogaland Central Hospital during the period 1985-89, with a total of 19,255 live births. The total incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was 3.8 per 1,000 live births. 65 of the dead infants were brought to the hospital, and a post-mortem was performed on 59. Most parents were followed up by the author and a priest in a bereavement group. The parents of three SIDS infants who had no contact with the hospital when the infant died also joined the group. Five more SIDS cases were registered when the author received data from the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry.