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Prematurity at birth reduces the long-term risk of atopy

M Siltanen1, M Kajosaari, M Pohjavuori

  • 1Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|February 15, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Children born preterm showed significantly less atopy by age 10 compared to those born at term. Premature birth appears linked to a reduced long-term risk of developing atopic sensitization.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Neonatal Outcomes and Long-Term Health

Background:

  • Early life antigen exposure significantly influences atopic sensitization.
  • Children born preterm may have a different predisposition to atopy compared to full-term infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between premature birth and the development of atopy in children.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 10-year-old children, including 72 born preterm (birth weight < 1500g) and 65 born at term (birth weight > 2500g), were evaluated.
  • Atopy assessment involved questionnaires, skin prick testing, and measurement of serum total IgE, allergen-specific IgE, eosinophil cationic protein, and blood eosinophil levels.
  • Perinatal and neonatal data for preterm infants were retrieved from hospital records.

Main Results:

  • Children born preterm exhibited significantly lower rates of atopy (15%) compared to term-born children (31%) by age 10 (P = .03).
  • The mean total IgE level was higher in the term group (74 kU/L) than in the preterm group (41 kU/L) (P = .02).
  • Skin prick testing revealed positive reactions in 37% of term-born children versus 17% of preterm-born children (P = .007).

Conclusions:

  • Premature birth is associated with a reduced long-term risk of atopic sensitization.
  • These findings highlight a potential protective effect of prematurity against the development of atopy later in childhood.
Abstract

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