Maternal atopy and serum IgE levels have consistently been stronger predictors of cord-blood IgE levels than paternal atopy and IgE levels.39 40 A large Danish cohort study, which included parent-specific heritability of elevated specific IgE, demonstrated that maternal asthma history, elevated total IgE and allergic sensitisation posed a stronger risk for early childhood asthma and allergic traits than paternal history, especially in the years before the age of 6.24 Here, IGHE is linked to asthma.