Prediction of atopic disease in the newborn: methodological aspects

Recent studies suggest that avoidance of alimentary allergens in early infancy and possibly during pregnancy may have favourable effects on the natural course of atopic disease. This seems to apply only to infants identified to be at risk because of family history and/or high cord-blood IgE. Therefore, a great number of factors have to be considered if we want to predict disease. Most of them cannot be foreseen at all. Our on-going study focuses on the risk of developing atopic manifestations following exposure. However, justification for neonatal screening for the risk of atopic diseases is still under debate.