Increase of allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E antibodies from 1973 to 1994 in a Finnish population and a possible relationship to Helicobacter pylori infections¹

Abstract

IgE-based evidence for an increase in IgE-mediated allergy was uncovered. The increase occurred mainly in the subgroup with no antibodies to H. pylori, which support the hypothesis that H. pylori could be one of the microbes counteracting atopy.

Should milk-specific IgE antibodies be measured in adults in primary care?

“…The IgE levels for cow's milk protein, however, were low in comparison with earlier studies [14,19]. According to the well-described increase in inhalant IgE antibody levels in the younger age cohorts during recent years [22], it was unexpected that the number of positive results for IgE antibodies for food was similar among the youngest (18Á33 years) and oldest participants (50Á64 years). Further, the positive test result for IgE antibodies to cow's milk was not associated with the consumption of milk as a daily drink.…”

Helicobacter pylori Seroprevalence in Patients with Mild Asthma

“…It seems that though the similarities between the pathogenesis in asthma and ulcerogenesis might exist, it is also possible that they are invoked by a respective independent mechanism. A previous epidemiological study, conducted by Kosunen et al (2002) in a population of Finland, from 1973 to 1994 allergen-specific IgE prevalence rates and IgE antibody levels rose, and the increase occurred mainly in the subgroup with no antibody to H. pylori. They proposed the hypothesis that H. pylori infection may counteract atopic disease including asthma.…”

GastricHelicobacterInfection Inhibits Development of Oral Tolerance to Food Antigens in Mice

“…Indeed, the association between H. pylori infection and food allergy (8,16) as well as with other allergic diseases like chronic urticaria (12,35), atopic dermatitis (31), and hereditary angioneurotic edema was suggested, although contradictory results have been obtained (24,26). The main factor which argues against this association is the Th1/Th2 paradigm.…”