J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2002 Dec;22(4):695-702.

Parental predisposition to atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness

• Kim SH
• Hong SC
• Kim SS
• Chang YS
• Bahn JW
• Kim YK
• Cho SH
• Kim YY
• Min KU

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) which are characteristics of asthma, are strongly correlated but independently inherited traits. The relative contribution of maternal and paternal condition to the risk of offspring's condition is not certain.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal or paternal contribution to childhood atopy and BHR in a population-based sample of 140 Korean nuclear families.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A total of 486 subjects (133 mothers, 132 fathers and 221 offsprings) participated in this study. All subjects provided questionnaire data and 483 subjects underwent allergy skin prick test with 13 inhalant allergens. Total serum IgE levels were determined in 444 subjects and methacholine bronchial provocation test were performed in 483 subjects.
RESULTS
Serum total IgE level in the offspring was correlated with both maternal and paternal total IgE (mother: R=0.273, p<0.01; father: R=0.200, p<0.01). Bronchial hyperres ponsiveness was associated with parental atopy index (mother: R=0.175, p<0.01; father: R=0.205, p<0.01) and maternal BHR(R=0.201, p<0.01). The development of wheezing in the offspring was significantly associated with maternal BHR, but not paternal.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that maternal BHR does confer more risk than paternal BHR to risk of offspring's BHR.

Keyword

parent; atopy; bronchial hyperresponsiveness; predisposition

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Asthma
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Fathers
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride
Mothers
Nuclear Family
Parents*
Respiratory Sounds
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride