Latent class analysis reveals clinically relevant atopy phenotypes in 2 birth cohorts.

Hose, Alexander J; Depner, Martin; Illi, Sabina; Lau, Susanne; Keil, Thomas; Wahn, Ulrich; Fuchs, Oliver; Pfefferle, Petra Ina; Schmaußer-Hechfellner, Elisabeth; Genuneit, Jon; Lauener, Roger; Karvonen, Anne M; Roduit, Caroline; Dalphin, Jean-Charles; Riedler, Josef; Pekkanen, Juha; von Mutius, Erika; Ege, Markus J (2017). Latent class analysis reveals clinically relevant atopy phenotypes in 2 birth cohorts. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 139(6), 1935-1945.e12. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.08.046

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BACKGROUND

Phenotypes of childhood-onset asthma are characterized by distinct trajectories and functional features. For atopy, definition of phenotypes during childhood is less clear.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to define phenotypes of atopic sensitization over the first 6 years of life using a latent class analysis (LCA) integrating 3 dimensions of atopy: allergen specificity, time course, and levels of specific IgE (sIgE).

METHODS

Phenotypes were defined by means of LCA in 680 children of the Multizentrische Allergiestudie (MAS) and 766 children of the Protection against allergy: Study in Rural Environments (PASTURE) birth cohorts and compared with classical nondisjunctive definitions of seasonal, perennial, and food sensitization with respect to atopic diseases and lung function. Cytokine levels were measured in the PASTURE cohort.

RESULTS

The LCA classified predominantly by type and multiplicity of sensitization (food vs inhalant), allergen combinations, and sIgE levels. Latent classes were related to atopic disease manifestations with higher sensitivity and specificity than the classical definitions. LCA detected consistently in both cohorts a distinct group of children with severe atopy characterized by high seasonal sIgE levels and a strong propensity for asthma; hay fever; eczema; and impaired lung function, also in children without an established asthma diagnosis. Severe atopy was associated with an increased IL-5/IFN-γ ratio. A path analysis among sensitized children revealed that among all features of severe atopy, only excessive sIgE production early in life affected asthma risk.

CONCLUSIONS

LCA revealed a set of benign, symptomatic, and severe atopy phenotypes. The severe phenotype emerged as a latent condition with signs of a dysbalanced immune response. It determined high asthma risk through excessive sIgE production and directly affected impaired lung function.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Unit Childrens Hospital > Forschungsgruppe Pneumologie (Pädiatrie)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Unit Childrens Hospital
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine > Paediatric Pneumology

UniBE Contributor:

Fuchs, Oliver

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1097-6825

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

20 Feb 2018 14:18

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:09

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.jaci.2016.08.046

PubMed ID:

27771325

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Atopy IgE asthma atopic diseases cytokines epidemiology latent class analysis lung function path analysis sensitization severe atopy unsupervised clustering

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.109253

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/109253

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