Antinuclear Antibodies in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis and Severe Facial Lesions

Abstract

Background: In adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), the presence of auto-antibodies such as anti-IgE and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) has been demonstrated. The patients may have altered immune regulation. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of ANA in AD patients with severe facial eruptions and to evaluate the differences between ANA-positive and ANA-negative AD patients. Methods: ANA, blood eosinophil count, total serum IgE levels, specific IgE antibody to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, disease duration, photosensitivity and association with respiratory allergic diseases were checked in 89 AD patients. Results: Twenty-three (25.8%) AD patients showed positive ANA at titers ranging from 1:40 to 1:640, and the incidence of positive ANA was 12.1% in controls. Twenty-five (71.4%) of 35 AD patients with positive ANA at titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:640 were females. Conclusion: Adult AD patients with severe facial lesions should be examined for serum ANA. Particularly in female and photosensitive AD patients with severe facial lesions, serum autoantibodies have to be carefully investigated to differentiate from autoimmune diseases.

Does “autoreactivity” play a role in atopic dermatitis?

“…E9,E13,E28 Severe facial eczema has previously been described to be present more often in patients with eczema with positive ANA results (titer >1:40). 9 However, no consistent facial predilection was noted in the 3 studies that we identified that contained information on locations of lesions (Table I). E13,E28,E30 Is autoreactivity a marker of AD severity?…”

Evaluation of dietary intake of vitamin E in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a study of the clinical course and evaluation of the immunoglobulin E serum levels

“…Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a well‐known, chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease frequently seen in subjects with a personal and/or family history of atopy, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Its etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear, although a possible altered immune regulation, with the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG antinuclear antibodies (ANA), has recently been demonstrated 1,2 . Due to the lack of specific laboratory diagnostic tests, the diagnosis depends entirely on the recognition of the major and minor clinical features suggested by Hanifin and Rajka 3,4 .…”

Head and neck dermatitis: the role ofMalassezia furfur, topical steroid use and environmental factors in its causation

“…Hypersensitivity to the cutaneous microflora such as Malassezia furfur [2][3][4][5][6][7] and Candida albicans 8 was suggested to be of pathogenic importance as triggering factors in the occurrence of HND. Long-term application of topical steroids can also result in rosacea-like erythema, 9,10 and it is possible for common environmental factors such as aeroallergen, 11,12 irritants, 13,14 climate 14 and sun exposure 15,16 to provoke HND. However, there have been few studies on the effects of topical steroids applied to the face over a long time period and of other common environmental factors in the patients with HND.…”