Measurement of soluble Fas ligand and specific IgE to D.
pteronyssinus
Cord blood soluble Fas ligand levels were measured using an
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Human Fas Ligand/TNFSF6 DuoSet ELISA;
R & D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). The D.
pteronyssinus -specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured by a
fluorescent enzyme immunoassay (ImmunoCAP®; detection
limit 0.1 kU/L; Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). Atopy was defined as the value
of total IgE > 0.35 kU/L.17