Association of cord blood soluble FasL levels with atopic outcomes at 7 years old
The mean values and standard deviations for the cord blood soluble FasL levels in 7-year-old children with or without specific allergic outcomes are shown in Table 1. We observed that the cord blood soluble FasL levels were significantly higher in 7-year-old children with atopy (p = .003), D. pteronyssinus sensitization (p = .003), and allergic rhinitis (p = .016). The cord blood soluble FasL levels of these 7-year-old children with asthma and atopic dermatitis were not elevated at birth.
The FeNO levels at 7 years were also positively correlated with the cord blood soluble FasL levels (r2 = .077, p = .006, Figure 2A). Similarly, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus -specific immunoglobulin E levels at 7 years were positively correlated with cord blood soluble FasL levels (r2 = .057, p = .02, Figure 2B). The 7-year-old children with expiratory airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC < 90%) had significantly higher cord soluble FasL levels at birth (p = .022, Table 1).