Atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common dermatologic disease that can occur at different ages with different clinical manifestations. The etiologic factors and the pathogenetic pathways of AD have been thoroughly investigated but as often happens, something more has to be yet elucidated before the statement, that we possess the overall comprehension of the disease, could be considered the truth. Treatment of AD is often challenging, because of the chronic course of the disease and the fact that even the best of therapies is affected by adverse events, intolerances, or the possible occurrence of contraindications resulting from a sudden change in the overall health status of the patient (e.g., the onset of some comorbidities). Hence, the need to know "how, when, with what, and why" to treat AD patients with the many therapeutic modalities is now in the hands of the dermatologists.

Association of serum interleukin-18 and other biomarkers with disease severity in adults with atopic dermatitis

“…Atopic dermatitis is a refractory, chronically relapsing inXammatory disease of the skin that often deWes control [2]. Clinicians seeking to assess the eYcacy of AD treatments need objective markers to accurately indicate disease severity.…”

Innate immune cell populations function as initiators and effectors in Th2 cytokine responses

“…Given the increasing prevalence of atopic disorders in industrialized countries, and the estimated 2 billion individuals worldwide that are infected with soil-transmitted helminth parasites [8][9][10][11][12], a more comprehensive understanding of how Th2 cytokine responses are initiated and regulated could benefit the design of new therapeutic strategies to target these conditions. Although the mechanisms involved in the initiation of innate immune responses following exposure to viral, bacterial or protozoan infections are well characterized [13][14][15][16][17][18], the innate immune pathways that promote Th2 cytokine responses in the context of allergy or helminth infection remain less well defined.…”

Prediction of the incidence, recurrence, and persistence of atopic dermatitis in adolescence: A prospective cohort study

“…[2][3][4] However, it has been suggested that 10% to 20% of European children and teenagers are affected by AD until adolescence. 5,6 Several especially environmental factors, such as indoor allergens, 7 dust exposure, 8 and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), 9,10 have a relevant influence on the development of AD in infancy and childhood. In addition, the presence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in patients and a positive family history for those diseases are linked to the incidence of AD.…”