Similar to our previous findings for lower respiratory symptoms and lung function in children[6], but in contrast to our findings for rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis[18], the associations between quantitative atopy and lung function and airway hyperresponsiveness remained strongly significant when the IgE levels/sizes of skin tests for individual allergens (mite, cat, dog and grass) were summed (with the single exception of the sum of sIgE levels and lung function parameters). The gene discussed is IGHE; the disease is airway hyperresponsiveness.