Specific IgE to Staphylococcus aureus in patients with atopic dermatitis

It is a well-known feature of atopic dermatitis (AD) that the patient's skin is heavily colonized by Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus-derived antigens may be important triggers of the immune response and may significantly contribute to the genesis of the cutaneous pathology of AD. Therefore, serum samples of 52 patients with AD, all of whom had signs of moderate to severe disease activity, were tested for antistaphylococcal IgE antibodies with RAST discs coupled to antigens derived from Wood 46 strain. Total IgE concentrations and specific IgE to nine different common allergens were also determined. Only 2 patients showed significant levels of specific IgE antibodies to S. aureus (RAST class greater than or equal to 2). Both these patients were found to have high total IgE and significant levels of specific IgE to all nine common allergens tested. One of the patients had marked eosinophilia. We conclude that the presence of specific IgE to S. aureus is not correlated with the disease activity in AD. Specific antistaphylococcal IgE does not represent an important diagnostic feature in AD, but may be of importance for the detection of subgroups within patients affected by AD.