Allergic sensitization and filaggrin variants predispose to the comorbidity of eczema, asthma, and rhinitis: results from the Isle of Wight birth cohort. Issue 9 (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ziyab, A. H.; Karmaus, W.; Zhang, H.; Holloway, J. W.; Steck, S. E.; Ewart, S.; Arshad, S. H.
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 44:Issue 9(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1170
• Page End: 1178
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.12321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cea12321-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cea12321-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Allergic sensitization and filaggrin gene (<italic>FLG</italic>) variants are important risk factors for allergic disorders; however, knowledge on their individual and interactive effects on the coexistence of eczema, asthma, and rhinitis is lacking.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12321-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>This study aimed at investigating the single and combined effects of allergic sensitization and <italic>FLG</italic> variants on the development of single and multiple allergic disorders.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12321-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The Isle of Wight birth cohort (<italic>n</italic> = 1456) has been examined at 1, 2, 4, 10, and 18 years of age. Repeated measurements of eczema, asthma, rhinitis, and skin prick tests were available for all follow‐ups. <italic>FLG</italic> variants were genotyped in 1150 participants. Associations of allergic sensitization and <italic>FLG</italic> variants with single and multiple allergic disorders were tested in log‐binomial regression analysis.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12321-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The prevalence of eczema‐, asthma‐, and rhinitis‐only ranged from 5.6% to 8.5%, 4.9% to 10.2%, and 2.5% to 20.4%, respectively, during the first 18 years of life. The coexistence of allergic disorders is common, with approximately 2% of the population reporting the comorbidity of 'eczema, asthma, and rhinitis' during the study period. In repeated measurement analyses, allergic sensitization and <italic>FLG</italic> variants, when analysed separately, were associated with having single and multiple allergic disorders. Of particular significance, their combined effect increased the risk of 'eczema and asthma' (RR = 13.67, 95% CI: 7.35–25.42), 'asthma and rhinitis' (RR = 7.46, 95% CI: 5.07–10.98), and 'eczema, asthma, and rhinitis' (RR = 23.44, 95% CI: 12.27–44.78).</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12321-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and Clinical Relevance</title> <p>The coexistence of allergic disorders is frequent, and allergic sensitization and <italic>FLG</italic> variants jointly increased risk of allergic comorbidities, which may represent more severe and complex clinical phenotypes. The interactive effect and the elevated proportion of allergic comorbidities associated with allergic sensitization and <italic>FLG</italic> variants emphasize their joint importance in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders.</p> </sec> </abstract>