Atopy is a factor in adult-onset asthma

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study shows that heredity predisposition is important in the development of adult asthma.
Atopy is an inherited predisposition to allergic disease, including asthma. It has long been known that atopy is an important factor in childhood asthma. Now a team at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health reveals that atopy is relevant to adult asthma too.

They looked at 485 cases of adult-onset asthma and 665 controls. The asthmatics, aged 21 to 63, had been diagnosed six months to two years before the start of the study. Their blood serum was analyzed for antibodies - a sign of atopy - and their lung function measured. Atopy was found to be a risk factor for asthma and this suggests that avoidance of relevant allergens, like molds or mites, might reduce the likelihood of developing asthma. It is hard to avoid pollen - a common allergen - so it may be best to focus on avoiding those allergens which arise from indoor dampness, such as molds and mites. Domestic animals may also trigger asthma among those with atopy.

Source
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology March 2006

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