Prediction of allergic diseases by measurement total IgE in umbilical cord blood levels: A 8 -year follow up study

Abstract Allergic diseases in children have increased significantly in recent years and now affect up to 35% of children. This study aimed to investigate the total IgE level in newborn’s umbilical cord blood and its association with the development of allergic diseases during 8 years. Methods: In cross-sectional study included 500 infants who were born in the obstetrics department at Tishreen and Al-Assad University Hospitals during the period 2007-2015. Questionnaires were administered after the birth of the infant included gender, gestational age, birth weight, mode and season of delivery, smoking during pregnancy, family history of the allergic diseases, and umbilical cord blood was obtained for measurement of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. We followed the newborns for eight years through clinical examination to investigate the development of allergic diseases. Results: Of 500 newborns, 214 (42.8%) were classified as having high total immunoglobulin E in umbilical cord blood. We followed 143 of 214 newborns for 8 years. There was an allergic family history in 51.7% of newborns. During the following period, the allergic diseases developed in 76.22% of the children with high total immunoglobulin E in umbilical cord blood. Allergic symptoms in children varied between nasal allergy in 19.6% of children, skin allergy (Eczema and urticarial)in 25.2% of children, childhood asthma in 31.5% of children. The rate of development of allergic symptoms in the presence of two factors (family history and high total immunoglobulin E in umbilical cord blood) was 51.7%. Conclusion: We found a high Prevalence of allergic diseases in children with high total immunoglobulin E in umbilical cord blood. The Current study could be used as a preventative strategy to reduce the risk of allergic diseases by predictive of subsequent