Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the predictive value of cord blood 25(OH)D(3) [25(OH)D(3)] for infantile atopic dermatitis (AD), and to provide a reference for primary prevention of early infantile AD. METHODS: The neonates born from July to September, 2015 were enrolled. The cord blood samples were collected at birth to measure the level of 25(OH)D(3). Outpatient follow-up was conducted for all the infants at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after birth. A survey was performed to investigate the incidence of AD. RESULTS: A total of 67 neonates completed a 6-month follow-up. The incidence of AD was 34% (23/67), and 91% (21/23) of these cases occurred in the first month after birth. The 23 AD children had a significantly lower cord 25(OH)D(3) level than those without AD (P<0.05). The children with a cord 25(OH)D(3) level <30 nmol/L showed a significantly higher incidence of AD than those with a cord 25(OH)D(3) level ≥30 nmol/L (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of cord 25(OH)D(3) in predicting AD was 0.648 (standard error: 0.075; 95%CI: 0.502-0.795). Its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 52.2%, 79.5%, 57.1%, and 76.1%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that low cord 25(OH)D(3) level, preference for seafood during pregnancy, atopic family history, and mixed feeding were risk factors for infantile AD (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cord 25(OH)D(3) level is inversely associated with the risk of infantile AD, but it has a low diagnostic value for this disease.