Bacille-Calmette-Guerin vaccination and the development of allergic disease in children: a randomized, prospective, single-blind study

Autor: H. van Loveren, T. J. Steenhuis, Ger T. Rijkers, W.M.C. van Aalderen, J. van der Laag, W. Kuis, Nanne Bloksma, M. O. Hoekstra, Frans P. Nijkamp
Přispěvatelé: Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Paediatric Pulmonology
Rok vydání: 2007
Předmět:
Zdroj: Clinical and experimental allergy, 38(1), 79-85. Wiley-Blackwell
ISSN: 1365-2222
0954-7894
Popis: Summary Background The increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases in countries with a so-called western lifestyle may be due to a decrease in exposure to infectious agents in early life. Objective To establish the effect of Bacille–Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccination in 6-week-old high-risk infants in a prospective single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the prevalence of allergic disease at the age of 4 and 18 months. Methods Subjects were 121 predominantly Caucasian high-risk newborns, having either a mother, or both a father and at least one sibling with past or present allergic disease. BCG or placebo was administered at the age of 6 weeks, and repeated once when both a post-vaccination scar and a positive TB skin test were absent at the age of 4 months. Results At the age of 18 months, the prevalence of allergic disease was not significantly different between the two groups. A trend towards less eczema (P=0.07) and significantly less use of medication for eczema was shown in the BCG group compared with the placebo group (P=0.04). Conclusion A single (or once repeated) BCG vaccination in 6-week-old high-risk Caucasian infants was not associated with a 50% reduction in the prevalence of allergic disease. However, there could be a smaller beneficial effect of BCG, especially because a trend towards less eczema and significantly less use of medication for eczema was shown. For definite proof, a larger study should be carried out.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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