Mold-specific immunoglobulin E antibodies in primary school students: A 3-year follow-up study

The relationship between dampness and mold growth in buildings and respirat ory health problems of inhabitants has been observed in many epidemiologic studies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of mold allergy at school age with special attention paid to mold-specific im munoglobulin E (IgE) in relation to asthma, skin prick test (SPT) results,; and exposure in the school in a follow-np study design. In 1996, 212 primar y school students with asthma, wheezing, or prolonged cough participated in a clinical study, including SPTs to 12 molds in all and serum mold-specifi c IgE determinations to 10 molds in selected cases. Three years later, 144 of them participated in an identical follow-up study, the serum mold-specif ic IgE was measured in the 17 children who reacted to molds in SPTs and in 45 age- and sex- matched SPT-negative controls from the same schools. Seven (11%) of the 62 students had elevated mold-specific IgE. In addition, ther e were uncertain results in 3 cases. An elevated or uncertain IgE concentra tion was found in 4 (67%) of the 6 children with positive SPT, in 3 (27%) o f the 11 children with weakly positive SPT, and in 3 (7%) of the 45 childre n with no SPT reactions to molds. The presence of IgE was associated with c linical atopy and SPT reactivity to common allergens. However, no associati on with moisture or mold problems in the school was seen. Serum mold specif ic IgE was rarely positive at school age. A rather good agreement was seen between mold-specific IgE and SPTs to molds. Mold-specific IgE was positive mostly in atopic children with no association with exposure in the school.