IgE Antibodies to Mammalian Allergens Are a Major Risk Factor for Prevalence, Severity, and Persistence of Asthma in Northern Sweden

• IgE to mammalian allergens can contribute significantly to asthma risk. Studying the details of the relationship between animal sensitization and asthma is simpler in an environment where mite, fungal, and cockroach allergens make little or no contribution to asthma risk. Methods: Quantitative assays for IgE to eight allergens were carried out on 963 sera from 19-year-olds in a population-based cohort in northern Sweden, and associations with questionnaire data from ages 7, 12, and 19 on asthma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment were tested. Results: Overall, 79 (53%) of the students with a physician diagnosis of asthma were positive to one or more of the mammalian allergens (cat, dog, or horse danders) tested. Of the allergens assessed, only mammalian allergens, birch, and timothy grass pollen showed a significant relationship with asthma diagnosis. Multivariate analysis showed that high titer (>17.5 IU/ml) IgE to any mammalian allergen had the strongest relationship with asthma at age 19 (odds ratio 5.1 [3.0-8.6]). Furthermore, IgE to mammalian allergens gave an odds ratio of 8.5 [4.9-15] for asthma that started before age 12 and was still present at age 19. Sensitization to Fel d 1 and Fel d 4 was strongly associated with asthma and significantly reduced in cat owners. Conclusions: Sensitization to cat and dog related allergens, and specifically to the components Fel d 1 and Fel d 4, is a major risk factor for the persistence and severity of asthma in an area where these are the only significant perennial allergens.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)