Development of serum Dermatophagoides farinae‐, ovalbumin‐ and lactalbumin‐specific IgG, IgG1, IgG4, IgA and IgM in children with bronchial asthma/allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Dermatophagoides farinae‐, ovalbumin‐and lactalbumin‐specific IgG, IgG₁, IgG₄, IgA and IgM were evaluated in 161 healthy children [Group 1], 84 children with bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis but without atopic dermatitis [Group 2], and 54 children with atopic dermatitis but without bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis [Group 3]. We also studied D. farinae‐, egg‐white‐, and milk‐specific IgE of children with allergic diseases. D. farinae‐specific IgG, IgG₁, IgG₄ and IgA in Groups 2 and 3 increased until 5 years of age and thereafter they remained constant. After 2 years of age, D. farinae‐specific IgG, IgG₁, IgG₄ and IgA in Group 2 were higher than those in Groups 1 and 3. Ovalbumin‐ and lactalbumin‐specific IgG, FgG₁, IgG₄ and IgA in Groups 2 and 3 increased until 1 year of age and thereafter decreased. Until 1 year of age, ovalbumin‐ and lactalbumin‐specific IgG, IgG₁, and IgG₄ in Groups 3 were higher than those in Groups 1 and 2. D. farinae‐, ovalbumin‐ and lactalbumin‐specilic IgM were constant in all ages of all groups. These results suggest that atopic dermatitis in young children is related to food‐specific immunoglobulins and that respiratory allergic diseases in older children is related to D. farinae‐specific immunoglobulins.