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Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 
 
 

Childhood atopy and allergic disease and skin test responses to environmental mycobacteria in rural Crete: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Through its powerful immunoregulatory effects, infection with atypical mycobacteria may exert a protective effect on the development of childhood allergic disease. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between childhood atopy or allergic disease and previous infection with four species of atypical mycobacteria. METHODS: Eight hundred and six children aged 8-18 years and living in rural Crete--most of whom had had previous BCG immunization--underwent skin prick testing with 10 aeroallergens; their parents completed a standardized questionnaire relating to allergic disease. No less than 8 weeks later each child underwent intradermal skin tests with 0.1 mL solutions of four selected mycobacterial reagents (Aviumin C, Gordonin, Chelonin and Ranin I). RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of children were atopic on skin prick testing; far fewer had symptoms of asthma (5%) or hayfever in conjunction with a positive prick test to pollens (2%). Eighty percent of children had positive skin responses to one or more mycobacterial species. Among all children--and those with a BCG scar--there was no association between atopy or allergic symptoms and mycobacterial skin responses; among the few children without a BCG scar however those with positive mycobacterial responses were less likely to be atopic or to report allergic symptoms; these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, in a population of BCG-immunized children, do not lend support to the suggestion that infection with atypical mycobacteria is protective against childhood allergic disease.[1]

References

  1. Childhood atopy and allergic disease and skin test responses to environmental mycobacteria in rural Crete: a cross-sectional survey. Bibakis, I., Zekveld, C., Dimitroulis, I., Pedioti, A., Gerakianaki, T., Fanourgiaki, S., Kokiadi, I., Iliakou-Bibakis, V., Newman Taylor, A.J., Stanford, C.A., Stanford, J.L., Cullinan, P. Clin. Exp. Allergy (2005) [Pubmed]
 
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