Peanut allergy linked to gene defect

CBC News reports that children with a certain gene defect are more likely to develop a peanut allergy.International researchers from the UK, Netherlands and Canada studied the effect of changes in the gene filaggrin, which helps the skin block out allergens. Changes in the gene were already thought to reduce the effectiveness of the barrier, increasing the risk for eczema and asthma.

"It was a logical next step to investigate whether filaggrin may also be a cause of peanut allergy, since a child may develop all three of these diseases together," Dr. Sara Brown of the division of molecular medicine at the University of Dundee said in a release.

The team's findings suggest one in five peanut allergy sufferers has a filaggrin defect, which means it is not the only cause of peanut allergies, said Prof. Irwin McLean, a study co-author also based at Dundee in Scotland.For more on Peanut Allergies visit NYC Allergy Doctor or contact my office for a consultation 866-632-5537Read the entire CBC article