Developmental influences and infantile atopic eczema
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| Title: | Developmental influences and infantile atopic eczema |
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| Authors: | El-Heis, Sarah |
| Committee Members: | Crozier, Sarah; Godfrey, Keith; Healy, Eugene |
| Summary: | Atopic eczema is a highly prevalent condition that can have a significant impact on affected infants and their families. Evidence that it partly originates in utero is increasing, where genetic predisposition and environmental exposures act together in determining the risk of developing this multifactorial, chronic skin condition. The aim of this research was to examine early life developmental influences on infantile atopic eczema at ages 6 and 12 months. Maternal serum concentrations of tryptophan and related metabolites, maternal stress and low mood, and fetal and infant growth patterns were studied in relation to infantile atopic eczema in the well characterised Southampton Women's Survey mother-offspring cohort. Lower maternal concentrations of the tryptophan metabolites nicotinamide and anthranilic acid during late pregnancy, and greater preconception perceived stress were associated with an increased risk of infantile atopic eczema at the age of 12 months. Postnatally, infants with eczema were shorter, with evidence of linear growth faltering that commenced in utero. The findings demonstrated impacts of maternal micronutrient status and psychological wellbeing on infantile atopic eczema. The impaired linear growth of infants with atopic eczema was shown to start in utero, prior to the clinical onset of the condition. The findings provide new evidence that atopic eczema partly originates during development before birth, and point to potential interventions to optimise maternal diet and improve psychological wellbeing beginning prior to conception to ultimately reduce the risk of infantile atopic eczema. |
| URL: | https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.786653 |
| Database: | OpenDissertations |
| Abstract: | Atopic eczema is a highly prevalent condition that can have a significant impact on affected infants and their families. Evidence that it partly originates in utero is increasing, where genetic predisposition and environmental exposures act together in determining the risk of developing this multifactorial, chronic skin condition. The aim of this research was to examine early life developmental influences on infantile atopic eczema at ages 6 and 12 months. Maternal serum concentrations of tryptophan and related metabolites, maternal stress and low mood, and fetal and infant growth patterns were studied in relation to infantile atopic eczema in the well characterised Southampton Women's Survey mother-offspring cohort. Lower maternal concentrations of the tryptophan metabolites nicotinamide and anthranilic acid during late pregnancy, and greater preconception perceived stress were associated with an increased risk of infantile atopic eczema at the age of 12 months. Postnatally, infants with eczema were shorter, with evidence of linear growth faltering that commenced in utero. The findings demonstrated impacts of maternal micronutrient status and psychological wellbeing on infantile atopic eczema. The impaired linear growth of infants with atopic eczema was shown to start in utero, prior to the clinical onset of the condition. The findings provide new evidence that atopic eczema partly originates during development before birth, and point to potential interventions to optimise maternal diet and improve psychological wellbeing beginning prior to conception to ultimately reduce the risk of infantile atopic eczema. |
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