Prenatal exposure to a farm environment modifies atopic sensitization at birth

MJ Ege, I Herzum, G Büchele… - Journal of allergy and …, 2008 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Previous cross-sectional surveys have suggested that maternal exposure
to animal sheds during pregnancy exerted a protective effect on atopic sensitization in
children lasting until school age. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the effects of maternal
exposure to animal sheds and other farm-related exposures during pregnancy on cord
blood IgE levels in a prospective birth cohort. METHODS: Pregnant women living in rural
areas in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland were recruited in the third …