A pilot study showing pulsed-dye laser treatment improves localized areas of chronic atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Eczematous skin changes overlying port-wine stains have been reported to improve with pulsed-dye laser (PDL) treatment. However, PDL has not as yet been evaluated for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD; eczema). AIM: To evaluate in a controlled trial the effects and safety of PDL treatment in children with AD who had chronic localized lesions. METHODS: Twelve children with localized, chronic eczema were treated with PDL (595 nm), with untreated areas used as an intrapatient control. Treatment was given at baseline and patients were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks. Clinical outcome measures were localized Eczema Severity Score (ESS), a visual analogue scale (VAS) indicating eczema severity assessed by photographs, and adverse events. RESULTS: After 2 and 6 weeks, a significant decrease in ESS was seen for the PDL-treated areas compared with the control areas (mean +/- SEM reduction in ESS 7.0 +/- 1.0 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.8 at 2 weeks, P = 0.003, and 7.8 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.9 +/- 1.3 at 6 weeks, P = 0.002). A significant difference in eczema severity assessed by VAS at 6 weeks was seen in favour of PDL (mean +/- SEM improvement 78% +/- 20% vs. 52% +/- 10%, P = 0.003). Treatment was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, PDL treatment was effective in treating small areas of chronic localized eczema. This may suggest that in AD dermal vasculature plays an important role or that PDL may have an effect on cutaneous immunological activation.     

Atopy patch test reactions to Malassezia allergens differentiate subgroups of atopic dermatitis patients

BACKGROUND: The yeast Malassezia is considered to be one of the factors that can contribute to atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the reactivity to Malassezia allergens, measured as specific serum IgE, positive skin prick test and positive atopy patch test (APT), in adult patients with AD. METHODS: In total, 132 adult patients with AD, 14 with seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and 33 healthy controls were investigated for their reactions to M. sympodialis extract and three recombinant Malassezia allergens (rMal s 1, rMal s 5 and rMal s 6). RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of the AD patients, but only one of the SD patients and none of the healthy controls, showed a positive reaction to at least one of the Malassezia allergens (extract and/or recombinant allergens) in at least one of the tests. The levels of M. sympodialis-specific IgE in serum correlated with the total serum IgE levels. Elevated serum levels of M. sympodialis-specific IgE were found in 55% and positive APT reactions in 41% of the AD patients with head and neck dermatitis. A relatively high proportion of patients without head and neck dermatitis and patients with low total serum IgE levels had a positive APT for M. sympodialis, despite lower proportions of individuals with M. sympodialis-specific IgE among these groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results support that Malassezia can play a role in eliciting and maintaining eczema in patients with AD. The addition of an APT to the test battery used in this study reveals a previously overlooked impact of Malassezia hypersensitivity in certain subgroups of AD patients.     

Phenotypes of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease affecting both children and adults. AD develops from a complex interplay between environmental, genetic, immunologic and biochemical factors. Genetic factors predispose atopic subjects to mount exaggerated Th2 responses and to a poorly efficient epidermal barrier, which may be sufficient to initiate inflammation in the skin and may favor allergic sensitization. Thus AD can present with different clinical pheno‐types. AD is classically distinguished into an intrinsic and extrinsic form, which are clinically identical but the former lacks high level specific IgE and is not associated with respiratory atopy. Although in many cases AD presents with monotonous eczematous lesions on the face, neck and skin folds, it may also present with other features. Very common is nummular eczema, which in many instances may be the dominant expression of AD. In other patients, AD affects limited areas (periorificial eczema, nipple eczema, cheilitis, hand eczema) or its main presentation is with excoriated papules and nodules (atopic prurigo). In conclusion, AD is a multifaceted disease affecting patients with epidermal barrier dysfunction and dry and sensitive skin. The recognition of the less common AD phenotypes is essential for proper patient management.     

IgE antibodies to Pityrosporum ovale in atopic dermatitis

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to assess serum IgE antibodies directed against Pityrosporum ovale in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), atopic patients with allergic respiratory disease (ARD: rhinitis or asthma) but without eczema, and in healthy controls. IgE binding to P. ovale extract was demonstrated in 49% (35/72) of AD patients. In contrast, anti-P. ovale IgE was found in only one of 27 atopic controls without eczema; all healthy control sera (n = 17) were negative. Of 37 AD patients tested intracutaneously with P. ovale, 31 showed immediate-type reactivity, and 20 of these 31 patients had anti-P. ovale IgE detectable by ELISA, while sera from the six non-responders were all negative. Levels of anti-P. ovale IgE were highest in AD patients aged 20-30 years. No correlation was found with the severity of AD, but there was a non-significant tendency (P = 0.06) to higher levels in AD patients with concomittant respiratory allergy. Anti-P. ovale IgE was significantly correlated with total serum IgE, with specific IgE against various aeroallergens as measured by RAST, and with levels of anti-Candida albicans IgE, measured with a similar ELISA. Thus, production of IgE antibodies against P. ovale occurs very frequently in AD, and rarely in patients with atopic disease without skin involvement.     

Eczema of the Face,Scalp and Neck: An Epidemiological Comparison by Site

Fifteen percent of 3684 patients with eczema attending a contact clinic presented with head and/or neck eczema. There were epidemiological differences among eczema rashes occurring on different parts of the head and neck. Of the 538 patients with head and/or neck eczema, 345 (64%) occurred solely on the face, 52 (10%) on the eyelids, 49 (9%) on the lips, 20 (4%) on the ears, 22 (4%) on the scalp, and 21 (4%) on the neck. Twenty-nine (5%) had eczema on more than one area of the head/neck. The mean age was lowest in patients with lip eczema (27.5 years) and highest in patients with eyelid eczema (37 years) (p=0.0056). The proportion of females with eczema was higher than males in all groups except the scalp eczema group. Contact dermatitis was more prevalent in the ear eczema (80%) and neck eczema (76%) groups, while endogenous/unclassifiable eczema was more prevalent in the lip eczema (72%) and scalp eczema (73%) groups (p<0.0001). Allergic contact dermatitis was more common than irritant contact dermatitis.     

Atopic dermatitis in older patients: particular points

We review the particular characteristics of atopic dermatitis (AD) in adult life, and compare findings with those of AD in childhood. AD affects 1–3% of adults world‐wide, and can present as adult‐onset AD, or as infantile/childhood AD that persists, or recurs after many years. Eczema in adults usually exists for years, compromising quality of life, sex life and occupational choices. The flexural areas, shoulders, head‐and‐neck, and hands are typically affected. In elderly adults, eczematous erythroderma is common. The intrinsic (non‐IgE‐allergic) eczema subtype affects 5–15% of cases. Classical food allergy has a low importance, although non‐IgE‐mediated and pseudoallergic reactions can cause eczema. Sensitivity to aeroallergens, especially dust mite, is demonstrated in the majority of adult AD patients, including elderly adults, by immunoglobulin E‐mediated tests and/or atopy patch tests. Occupational allergic and irritant contact dermatitis is increased. In adults, as in children, Staphylococcus aureus colonization is very high, whereas adult skin is more heavily colonized with Malassezia yeasts. Immediate and delayed sensitization to Malassezia sympodialis is specific for intrinsic and extrinsic AD, occurring especially in head‐and‐neck eczema. Concerning therapy, older patients are prone to certain adverse drug effects. In conclusion, differences exist between childhood and adult disease. As we should be seeing more adults with AD in the future, there is a need for more clinical and immunological studies in older patients.     

Are age‐specific high serum IgE levels associated with worse symptomatology in children with atopic dermatitis?

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a distressing disease associated with excoriations, pruritus, sleep disturbance, and elevation of serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether serum IgE levels correlate with the symptomatology and plasma chemokine levels in children with AD. METHODS: AD patients aged younger than 18 years were recruited from the pediatric dermatology clinic of a university teaching hospital, and the AD severity was evaluated using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Concentrations of serum total IgE, eosinophil count, and plasma AD-associated chemokines [cutaneous T-cell-attracting cytokine (CTACK), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)] were measured. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen Chinese children with AD (64 boys and 53 girls), with an age (mean +/- standard deviation) of 10.7 +/- 4.4 years, were recruited. Their overall SCORAD index (mean +/- standard deviation) was 51.1 +/- 22.8. The total serum IgE level divided by the age-specific upper limit (AE) correlated well with the extent and intensity of AD, except for oozing/crusting, which was significant only in males. There was a significant correlation between AE and pruritus or sleep loss only in females. Levels of IgE, CTACK, and TARC, and eosinophil count, differed significantly between patients with mild, moderate, and severe disease. AE correlated well with TARC (r = 0.50, P < 0.001) and eosinophil count (r = 0.41, P < 0.001), but not with CTACK (r = 0.11, P = 0.270). The prediction of moderate to severe eczema by AE gave an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.86; P = 0.004). An optimum positive predictive value of 94.2% was achieved with a cut-off point of AE of 2.95, sensitivity of 75.0%, and specificity of 66.7%. CONCLUSION: AE correlates significantly with various objective clinical scores and chemokine markers of AD, and is a useful indicator for predicting moderate to severe AD in children.     

儿童特应性皮炎患者外周血单一核细胞IL-31与疾病严重程度相关性分析

目的 探讨IL-31在儿童特应性皮炎发病机制中的作用以及与特应性皮炎瘙痒的相关性。方法 22例特应性皮炎患儿与22例健康儿童外周血单一核细胞在葡萄球菌肠毒素B（SEB）刺激或非刺激状态下，应用实时PCR方法分析IL-31表达情况；酶联免疫吸附法测定其血清IgE水平；对患儿病情进行病情严重程度评分，分析IL-31 mRNA与IgE水平、疾病严重程度及瘙痒的相关性。结果 特应性皮炎患儿外周血单一核细胞IL-31表达显著增加，是对照组的23.2倍（P < 0.01）。特应性皮炎组和对照组外周血单一核细胞受SEB刺激后IL-31表达均有不同程度升高，以特应性皮炎组IL-31表达增加更显著，是对照组的20.44倍。患儿血清总IgE水平中位数为260.05 IU/mL（范围5.9 ～ 1131.01 IU/mL），对照组为17.7 IU/mL（范围5 ～ 140.7 IU/mL），两组比较，P < 0.01。IL-31与患儿病情严重程度以及血清总IgE水平无显著相关性（r = 0.07，P > 0.05；r = 0.22，P > 0.05）。结论 IL-31可能参与儿童特应性皮炎发病，其作用机制可能不依赖血清IgE；SEB能诱导正常人外周血单一核细胞快速表达IL-31，是IL-31产生的重要调节因素。     

遗传过敏性皮炎致敏因素分析

目的：了解遗传过敏性皮炎（AD）患者接触过敏的情况以及各种常见变应原特异性IgE的阳性检出率。方法：对90例AD患者进行斑贴试验和血清Mast SIgE检测。结果：斑试阳性率为52．22%,与非AD患者的斑试阳性率比较无显著性差异（P＞0．05）,硫酸镍、4－苯二胺、芳香混合物的阳性率分别为16．67％、10．0％和6．67％。AD患者屋尘螨、粉尘螨的SIgE阳性检出率分别为50．0％、47．8％,屋尘的SIgE阳性检出率为44．4％。结论：AD患者斑试阳性率与非AD患者的斑试阳性率比较无显著性差异。硫酸镍、4－苯二胺、芳香混合物和螨类、屋尘、真菌、花粉等是广东地区AD患者常见的变应原。     

Leu7 (HNK-1)-positive cells in peripheral blood and natural killer cell activity in patients with atopic dermatitis]

To clarify the immunologic abnormalities in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), the percentages of Leu7 (HNK-1)-positive cells and natural killer (NK) cell activity were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from 25 AD patients (8 males and 17 females, mean age of 20.8 years old) and 69 healthy non-atopic persons (46 males and 23 females, mean age of 27.4 years old). The percentage of Leu7-positive cells was significantly reduced in AD patients compared with that in controls (AD patients: 11.6 +/- 7.0%, controls: 19.5 +/- 8.3%, p less than 0.01). Although the difference was not statistically significant, reduction of the percentage was slighter in patients with mild AD than in moderate and severe AD patients (mild AD: 14.3 +/- 6.6%, moderate AD: 10.1 +/- 4.4%, severe AD: 10.5 +/- 8.3%). There was also a significant inverse correlation between the percentage of Leu7-positive cells and log IgE levels in patients with AD (r = -0.537, p less than 0.01). No differences in NK cells activity or NK cell activities augmented by interferon-beta and interleukin-2 were observed between in AD patients and in controls. These results suggest that the Leu7-positive cells in AD patients may be closely associated with the regulation of serum IgE production.     

Increased urinary leukotriene E4 excretion in patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) is known to play a part in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVES: To define the involvement of cysteinyl LTs in atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: Synthesis of cysteinyl LTs was assessed in patients with AD and healthy volunteers by measuring urinary LTE4, a useful index of systemic cysteinyl LT synthesis, using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD urinary LTE4 levels in patients with AD (125 +/- 69 pg mg(-1) creatinine, n = 20) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in healthy volunteers (60 +/- 19 pg mg(-1) creatinine, n = 17). A significant correlation between urinary LTE4 and total serum IgE levels in patients with AD was observed (r = 0.643, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate an enhanced synthesis of cysteinyl LTs in patients with AD and suggest that cysteinyl LTs are involved in the pathophysiology of AD.     

过敏性皮肤病患者斑贴试验结果分析及临床意义

目的研究过敏性皮肤病患者斑贴试验结果及临床意义.方法对254例湿疹、56例慢性荨麻疹、28例特应性皮炎患者进行斑贴试验检测.结果三组患者中阳性率较高的致敏原有四种物质相同,分别为硫酸镍、重铬酸甲、卡巴混合物、芳香混合物;特应性皮炎组阳性率(64.29%)明显低于湿疹组(79.92%),慢性荨麻疹(76.79%)与湿疹二组阳性率之间差异无显著性.结论过敏性皮肤病患者阳性率较高的致敏原具有相同性;硫酸镍、重铬酸甲、卡巴混合物、芳香混合物具有较高的致敏性;斑贴试验主要用于检测外源性变应原,特应性皮炎的病因可能以内源性为主;接触性过敏原可以引起接触性荨麻疹;斑贴试验阳性致敏原常是引起面部湿疹、手湿疹的致病因素.     

特应性皮炎和湿疹患者血清金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素B特异性抗体的检测及其意义

目的 探讨特应性皮炎(AD)和湿疹患者血清金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素B(SEB)特异性抗体水平及其意义。方法 采用多中心、随机双盲、对照法,将118例AD和207例湿疹患者分为莫匹罗星治疗组和对照组,于治疗前和治疗28d取血清行间接酶联免疫吸附测定法测定抗SEB特异性IgG、IgM水平,采用链霉亲和素-生物素法检测抗SEBIgE水平。结果 治疗前,抗SEBIgE水平AD组显著高于正常人对照组(P=0.019)和湿疹组(P=0.048),湿疹组与正常人对照组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.883);抗SEBIgM水平AD组(P=0.012)和湿疹组(P=0.000)均显著高于正常人对照组,AD组与湿疹组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.088);抗SEBIgG水平各组间均差异无统计学意义(P=0.897)。临床症状评分与抗SEBIgE水平之间AD组(P=0.842)和湿疹组(P=0.134)均无显著相关性。治疗28d后,抗SEBIgM水平AD组显著下降(P=0.003),湿疹组亦显著下降(P=0.000),但治疗组与对照组间AD组(P=0.331)和湿疹组(P=0.815)差异均无统计学意义。结论 AD和湿疹患者血中抗SEBIgM、IgE升高,反映皮损处近期金黄色葡萄球菌定植并参与了皮肤变应性炎症性反应。     

Frequency and clinical role of Staphylococcus aureus overinfection in atopic dermatitis in children

The goal of this study was to evaluate the frequency and role of Staphylococcus aureus infection in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). In 81 children, ages 2 months to 9 years, affected with moderate to severe AD, 308 samples from the cutaneous lesions were obtained and analyzed. S. aureus was isolated in 52 children (64.2%). Five of these were also colonized by Streptococcus pyogenes and one by Candida albicans. In 61 patients, total IgE serum level and specific IgE were tested to evaluate their allergic status: in 43 children a diagnosis of extrinsic AD was made, while 18 were affected by intrinsic AD. A higher presence of the bacterium was observed in allergic (71%) versus nonallergic children (49%). Our data demonstrate the importance of S. aureus in the clinical manifestation of AD and, in particular, its role in worsening the eczematous lesions of the face, neck, and perineum in children less than 1 year of age.     

Clinical and histopathological characterization of paradoxical head and neck erythema in patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab: a case series

Dupilumab is the first biologic registered for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). We report on seven patients with AD presenting with a paradoxical head and neck erythema that appeared 10–39 weeks after the start of dupilumab treatment. The patients presented with a relatively sharply demarcated, patchy erythema in the head and neck area that showed no or less scaling compared with their usual eczema. Only one patient experienced symptoms of itch and burning, although this was notably different from his pre-existent facial AD. Except for a notable ‘red face’, eczema on other body parts had greatly improved in six of the seven patients, with a mean numerical rating scale for treatment satisfaction of 9 out of 10 at the time of biopsy. Treatment of the erythema with topical and systemic drugs was unsuccessful. Despite the presence of this erythema, none of our patients discontinued dupilumab treatment. Lesional skin biopsies showed an increased number of ectatic capillaries, and a perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration in all patients. In addition, epidermal hyperplasia with elongation of the rete ridges was observed in four patients, resembling a psoriasiform dermatitis. Additional immunohistochemical stainings revealed increased numbers of plasma cells, histiocytes and T lymphocytes. Interestingly, spongiosis was largely absent in all biopsies. We report on patients with AD treated with dupilumab developing a paradoxical erythema in a head and neck distribution. Both clinically and histopathologically we found a heterogeneous response, which was most suggestive of a drug-induced skin reaction.     

Senile type atopic dermatitis

Twenty-five patients older than 50 years with atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosed by the criteria of Tokyo Medical College were investigated on the basis of clinical course and features, IgE RIST, skin reactions, IgE RAST score to several antigens, and IgG4 levels in order to clarify the character of senile AD. The results were compared with the data from younger patients. It was found that the senile type AD showed various type of eczematous lesions whose onset was in the fourth decade of life, and higher IgE RIST and IgG4 levels than healthy people, but lower than younger AD patients. Immediate skin reactions to dermatophagoides and house dust were highly positive in the senile group like the younger group, while the reaction to spices was more highly positive (43%) than in younger persons. Clinically the recognition of the existence of senile type AD and the introduction of antiallergic therapy for severe eczema of old persons are important.     

复方苦参颗粒对重度特应性皮炎51例的治疗效果

目的 评估复方苦参颗粒治疗重度特应性皮炎的疗效及安全性.方法 51例门诊病人参加此次研究.记录治疗前后的湿疹评分,以及治疗前后的嗜酸粒细胞(EOS)和血清总IgE值.复方苦参颗粒口服1～2g/次,3次/d,外用方1患部外洗1～2次,d,外用方2惠部外用2～5 R/d.结果 治疗后特应性皮炎患者症状明显改善,治疗前全部极重度,治疗后94.1%的患者改善为中度以下.瘙痒也明显改善,治疗前全部患者约76.9%有日常生活障碍,治疗后全部患者改善为日常生活没有障碍水平.皮疹和瘙痒的评分,与治疗前比较差异均有显著性(P<0.01).患者EOS和血清总IgE值治疗后都有显著下降,与治疗前比较差异有显著性(P<0.01).有效率94.1%.结论 复方苦参颗粒治疗重度特应性皮炎安全有效.     

过敏专科门诊3 051例湿疹皮炎患者血清特异性IgE检测结果分析

目的分析湿疹皮炎患者血清特异性IgE检测结果。方法回顾2021年4月1日至2022年3月31日于华山医院过敏专科门诊就诊的3 051例湿疹皮炎患者, 利用Phadia过敏原检测系统检测患者的血清特异性IgE水平, 计算各项过敏原的检测阳性率, 分析湿疹皮炎患者的常见吸入性过敏原和食物过敏原。计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果 3 051例湿疹皮炎患者中, 特应性皮炎1 412例, 其他湿疹/皮炎1 639例。1 629例(53%)过敏原阳性, 阳性过敏原数为(3.0 ± 1.6)个。最常见的3种吸入性过敏原分别是粉尘螨(904/1 522例, 59%)、户尘螨(891/1 513例, 59%)和链格孢霉(206/1 068例, 19%);最常见的3种食物过敏原分别是虾(251/1 432例, 18%)、鸡蛋白(165/992例, 17%)和牛奶(149/994例, 15%)。3 051例中, 25例(1%)年龄< 2岁, 571例(19%)2 ～ 12岁, 285例(9%)12 ～ 18岁, 2 170例(71%) > 18岁。在< 2岁、2 ～ 12岁患者组中, 最...     

Reduction of serum interleukin-5 levels reflect clinical improvement in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Cytokines, in particular IL-4 and IL-5, regulate IgE synthesis and eosinophil activation in atopic dermatitis (AD). To elucidate whether the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-5 are related to the serum IgE level, eosinophilia, or clinical severity of the disease, 25 cases with AD were studied. Blood samples were isolated from two groups of donors: 1) patients with AD (n = 25); 2) non-allergic individuals (NA, n = 20) with serum IgE levels below 100 IU/ml and with blood eosinophil counts below 250/microliter. Each parameter was evaluated at least twice in AD patients at the beginning of the study and after 4, 8 or 12 weeks of treatment. IL-4 was hardly detected in AD and NA, but IL-5 was increased (> 10 pg/ml) in most cases (22/25) of AD group with 513.6 pg/ml as the mean. AD with normal serum IgE levels exhibited increased levels of IL-5, whereas AD with high serum IgE levels did not necessarily have elevated IL-5 levels. The IL-5 level tended to change in parallel with the clinical severity in each AD case, although the level itself was not correlated with the clinical severity per se. A significant decrease of IL-5 was observed in AD when the clinical severity decreased. Eosinophils also decreased along with the improvement of AD, whereas the serum level of IgE did not change during the observation period. Our results suggest that IL-5 is involved in the regulation of clinical courses of AD and that its kinetics at the serum level reflects the clinical activity of AD.     

Heterogeneity of interleukin 5 genetic background in atopic dermatitis patients: significant difference between those with blood eosinophilia and normal eosinophil levels

BACKGROUND: Blood eosinophil levels in patients with atopic dermatitis vary widely during exacerbation of the disease. We considered that in addition to environmental factors, the genetic background involved with elevating blood eosinophil levels might be heterogeneous among atopic dermatitis patients. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to determine whether a polymorphism of the interleukin (IL)5 gene plays a role in atopic dermatitis, particularly in those patients with blood eosinophilia. Due to the close relation of blood eosinophilia to high IgE productivity, we also assessed these polymorphisms in patients with high IgE concentrations. METHODS: We determined the genotype of the IL5 polymorphism -703C/T in 451 atopic dermatitis patients and 116 normal subjects. The patients were classified into three groups by blood eosinophil levels; less than 7%, from 7 to 15%, and more than 15%, as well as by serum IgE concentrations; less than 500 IU/ml, from 500 to 2000 IU/ml, and more than 2000 IU/ml. RESULTS: IL5 -703C/T was not significantly associated with either total atopic dermatitis patients or individual patients who had both blood eosinophilia and high IgE productivity. However, the distribution of the IL5 -703C/T genotype was significantly different between patients with either blood eosinophilia or high IgE productivity and those without either condition (P=0.0476, P=0.0088, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the IL5 gene may play a role in blood eosinophilia associated with atopic dermatitis. We also considered that the IL5 -703C/T gene polymorphism does not have a direct relationship to disease specificity.