Infant cord blood provides clues to respiratory diseases

New research has shown that children born in Melbourne during the last three months of the year are more likely to develop respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Led by La Trobe University, a team of local (MACS study) and international (COPSAC2000 and LISAplus) researchers analyzed cord blood collected from hundreds of babies born in Melbourne, Denmark and Germany.

They found that people born during the peak grass pollen season in both hemispheres had high levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the umbilical cord blood – a marker used to predict the development of allergic diseases.

Principal investigator, Associate Professor Bircan Erbas of the School of Psychology and Public Health La Trobe, said the purpose of the study was to determine the effect of exposure grass pollen raised during pregnancy and shortly after birth.

"We know that outdoor exposure to pollen during the first two months after birth can lead to allergic respiratory diseases and we have suspected that exposure during the later stages of pregnancy could also be important" said Professor Erbas.

"Many studies have shown that babies with high levels of IgE in the cord blood can develop allergies later in childhood, but little is known about how these levels are affected by exposure to pollen in utero. "

The researchers found high levels of IgE in babies born in October and December in Melbourne.

IgE levels were highest among German and Danish babies born in April – the highest pollination season in Europe.

However, they also found that pregnancy throughout the grass pollen season can have a protective effect on babies.

"We found that IgE levels were lower in babies.This finding was significant and indicated the possible development of an awareness barrier.However, further research is needed and we are currently studying the periods. risk of exposure to pollen. " during pregnancy on asthma and allergies in children, "said associate professor Erbas.

She pointed out that the study did not indicate that all babies born during a high pollen season would develop respiratory disease or other allergies.

"The study provides new information that could help us predict and manage diseases such as asthma, which pose a significant burden to public health.

"However, it's important to remember that there are a number of factors that can determine asthma or allergies – it's a piece of the puzzle."