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Genetics of parentally reported asthma, eczema and rhinitis in 5-yr-old twins

Dept of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

CORRESPONDENCE: C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt, Dept of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fax: 31 205988832. E-mail: toos{at}psy.vu.nl

Keywords: Asthma, childhood, eczema, heritability, rhinitis, twins

Received: May 16, 2006
Accepted December 18, 2006

The aim of the present study was to examine the genetic and environmental contributions to the individual differences in susceptibility to asthma, eczema and rhinitis in childhood and their role in the association among these conditions.

Information on asthma, eczema and rhinitis was obtained by parental report. Parents were asked whether a physician had ever diagnosed the condition. Complete data were available for 8,633 5-yr-old twin pairs born between 1986 and 1998.

The frequency of parentally reported asthma, eczema and rhinitis was 8.7, 16.8 and 4.4%, respectively, and was higher in males than females. Genetic factors accounted for 90% of the variance in the susceptibility to asthma, eczema and rhinitis. The magnitude of genetic factors did not differ between males and females. The remaining part of the variance was explained by environmental factors not shared by family members. The phenotypic correlations between parentally reported asthma, eczema and rhinitis were moderate and mainly mediated by the same genetic factors.

The high heritability and the limited influence of shared environmental factors may point to gene x environment interactions. Future research should focus on this type of interaction processes.

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