Pre-natal sensitization in humans

Abstract

Allergy has a very strong hereditary component but even in identical twins, concordance for the development of allergic disease can be as low as 50%. This suggests that there is a very strong environmental influence on manifestations of sensitization. To what extent environment might have an influence on the ontogeny of sensitization antenatally has hitherto not been a focus of much research. However, circumstantial evidence suggests that this may be important.