Abstract
Previous reports have implicated maternal ethanol ingestion as a cause of immunoglobulin abnormalities in children. We investigated the relationship between self-reported alcohol ingestion in 98 women during pregnancy and serum cord Immunoglobulin E (IgE). We found that mean cord IgE concentrations were significantly lower among newborns born to drinking mothers (0.15 IU/ml) than nondrinking mothers (0.27 IU/ml), p < 0.05. The difference of serum cord IgE means remained significant among infants with a positive family history of allergic disease, 0.15 IU/ml for infants of drinking mothers and 0.40 IU/ml of nondrinking mothers. There was a significant trend for lower mean cord IgE with increasing ethanol ingestion (p < 0.05). Maternal alcohol drinking should be considered a potential influence on cord blood IgE concentrations at birth.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 193-198 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Pediatric Asthma, Allergy and Immunology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1995 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Immunology and Allergy
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine