REDUCED INTERFERON-GAMMA SECRETION IN NEONATES AND SUBSEQUENT ATOPY

Low interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) secretion has been found in individua ls with active atopic disease. Whether this is a cause or result of th e disease process is uncertain. Cord blood IFN-gamma secretion was exa mined in 35 neonates who were then prospectively followed up for 1 yea r for the development of atopic disease. Infants who developed either symptoms of atopic disease or a positive IgE-mediated skin prick test at 12 months of age produced significantly less IFN-gamma at birth com pared with those who did not (p = 0.005). This reduced secretion of IF N-gamma at birth indicates that the defect in interferon secretion is a primary component of the atopic state rather than an effect of the d isease process.