Coexistence of IgE-Mediated Allergy and Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood

Vol. 134, No. 4, 2004

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Original Paper

Coexistence of IgE-Mediated Allergy and Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood
Carlo Caffarelli^a, Giovanni Cavagni^b, Rossella Pierdomenico^c, Giovanni Chiari^a, Andrea Spattini^b, Maurizio Vanelli^a

^aDipartimento dell'Età Evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica, Parma,
^bAzienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Modena Sud, Modena, and
^cAzienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Ascoli Piceno, Ascoli Piceno, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2004;134:288-294 (DOI: 10.1159/000079166)

Key Words

IgE-mediated allergy
Skin-prick test
Type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune disorders are considered to be associated with a Th1 immune response while allergic diseases with a Th2 response. We carried out a study to determine whether there is an inverse relationship between allergic diseases in IgE-sensitized children or positive skin-prick test reactions to allergens and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in children. Methods: Sixty-three children with DM1 and 108 controls were enrolled. Parents of all children compiled a questionnaire on allergic diseases. All children underwent skin-prick tests for common aero-allergens and food-allergens. Results: A history of allergic symptoms, especially wheezing, asthma and allergic rhinitis was significantly less common in the group with DM1. Allergic symptoms in children with IgE sensitization or parental atopy were no more likely in children with DM1 than in normal control subjects. There was no association between skin-prick test results to inhalants and food allergens and DM1. Conclusions: Consistently with the Th1/Th2 paradigm, we observed a reduction in the frequency of allergic symptoms in children with DM1. However, our study did not succeed in demonstrating an inverse relation between Th1- and Th2-mediated diseases in children with IgE sensitization or an atopic genetic predisposition.

Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Carlo Caffarelli
Dipartimento dell'Età Evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica
Via Gramsci, 14
IT-43100 Parma (Italy)
Tel. +39 0521 702207, Fax +39 0521 290460, E-Mail carlo.caffarelli@unipr.it

Article Information

Received: December 15, 2003
Accepted after revision: April 28, 2004
Published online: June 17, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 35

Medline Abstract (ID 15205560)

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