It is well known that asthma and atopy are
interrelated, and that both aggregate within families, and there is currently
much interest in the genetics of these conditions. The present study is
following up all twins who reported asthma or wheezing in two surveys
performed by the Genetic Epidemiology Unit from 1988-1989. In the clinical
phase of this study, 420 twin pairs in five capital cities were asked to
undergo respiratory function testing including bronchial reactivity to
histamine challenge, allergy skin prick testing and venesection for studies
of eosinophils and serum IgE. Twins have been typed for chromosome 11 DNA markers
recently linked to an atopy susceptibility gene but we have been unable to
replicate it. We are collaborating with Sequana Therapeutics Inc. on a genome
scan to find major genes for asthma.
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