Effect of prenatal indoor pet exposure on the trajectory of total IgE levels in early childhood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The presence of pets in a home during the prenatal period and during early infancy has been associated with a lower prevalence of allergic sensitization and total IgE levels in middle childhood. No studies have examined the effect of pet exposure in a population-based cohort by using multiple early-life measures of serum total IgE.

Objective

We sought to examine within-individual longitudinal trends in total IgE levels during early childhood and assess the effect of indoor prenatal pet exposure on those trends. Also, we sought to use a statistical method that was flexible enough to allow and account for unequally spaced study contacts and missing data.

Methods

Using the population-based Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study

SUBMITTER: Havstad S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3185205 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature