Cord Serum IgE Level Predicts Atopy up to Age 20

Elevated level of umbilical cord serum immunoglobulin E (CS-IgE) is a risk factor for allergic disease in children and young adults.

The researchers followed a cohort of 190 newborns at birth and again at the ages of 5, 11 and 20 years.

At age 5, an elevated CS-IgE level was associated with allergic symptoms and positivity in skin prick testing. It was also associated with elevated serum total IgE at the ages of 11 and 20 years and with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis at the age of 20 years.

The sensitivity of elevated CS-IgE in predicting skin-prick verified atopy was 50% at the age of 5 years and 26% at the age of 20 years.

There was an opposing study published in 2011: Cord blood immunoglobulin E level is not a strong predictor of clinical allergic disorders http://goo.gl/HJJzy

Ig structures. Image source: Wikipedia.


Role of IgE and mast cells in allergy. Image source: Wikipedia.

References:

Cord Serum IgE Level Predicts Atopy up to Age 20. Medscape.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2009;20:12-18.
Both low and high levels of cord blood 25(OH) vitamin D were associated with increased aeroallergen sensitization. JACI, 2011.
Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.