Dietary Intervention and DEHP Reduction: Rudel et al. Respond

A 380 volume 119 | number 9 | September 2011 • Environmental Health Perspectives was present in 59% of the patients; recurrent infections during childhood were common; 20% required amigdalectomy. One patient suffered rheumatic fever; one patient had not been effectively immunized after repeated hepatitis vaccines; and another had defective CD4 and suffered recurrent pneumo coccal infections. It would be surprising if these illnesses did not share a common root in the immune system. Schmidt (2011) underlined rising prevalence rates of auto immunity and dis­ cussed causes. I believe that this trend is rele­ vant in general to immune disorders because of different reactions within the same scope of lymphocyte dysfunction in response to our new aggressive environment. The author declares that he has no actual or potential competing financial interests.