Familial aggregation of food allergy and sensitization to food allergens: a family-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The increasing prevalence of food allergy (FA) is a growing clinical and public health problem. The contribution of genetic factors to FA remains largely unknown.

Objective

This study examined the pattern of familial aggregation and the degree to which genetic factors contribute to FA and sensitization to food allergens.

Methods

This study included 581 nuclear families (2,004 subjects) as part of an ongoing FA study in Chicago, IL, USA. FA was defined by a set of criteria including timing, clinical symptoms obtained via standardized questionnaire interview and corroborative specific IgE cut-offs for > or =95% positive predictive value (PPV) for food allergens measured by Phadia ImmunoCAP. Familial aggregation of FA as well as sensitization to food allergens

SUBMITTER: Tsai HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2729087 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature