الفهرس 
o Atopic dermatitisOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
AD is an eczematous highly pruritic chronic inflammatory relapsing skin disease. Its presentation varies from an acute eczematous relapsing eruption in early life to a characteristic lichenified dermatitis in older patients. AD often occurs in people with personal or family history of other atopic disease i.e. bronchial asthma, rhinitis and hay fever.
AD results from a combined IgE mediated hypersensitivity and delayed type hypersensitivity and most individuals with AD were found to have elevated serum IgE.
FA is a water-soluble vitamin B which serves as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions related to growth and development, neuronal function, and blood cell production. It mediates its actions by binding to folate receptors. Once inside the cell, FA is polyglutamated into a form which is biologically active and can not diffuse back into the plasma.
Impaired folate metabolism was found to reduce the intracellular methyl donor pool, associated with a higher prevalence of atopy.
The aim of this study was to assess serum FA in AD patients and to correlate its levels with the disease severity.
This study included 20 patients with AD, and 10 age- and sex- matched controls. The atopic patients were 11 females (55%) and 9 males (45%) with their ages ranging between 2-4 years with a mean of 5.5 years + 2.95. They were classified into three groups according to Nottingham index into: G1: included 8 patients with mild AD, G2: included 7 patients with moderate AD, and G3: included 5 patients with severe AD.
Serum IgE was assessed using ELISA technique and serum FA was assessed using MEIA technique (AxSYM Abbot) for both patients and controls.
The patients’ results were statistically compared with controls and were correlated with disease severity.
We found that serum IgE levels are significantly elevated in AD patients compared to controls, and among AD patients, its levels were significantly elevated in severe AD compared to mild and moderate disease.
On the other hand, serum FA levels were lower in AD patients compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Furthermore, FA levels didn’t show statistically significant difference among disease severity groups and didn’t correlate with serum IgE levels.
from the results obtained, we suggest that serum IgE is useful in assessment of disease severity and activity in AD patients. However, FA contribution is somehow possible for further investigations.
Recommendations
(1) Further studies are needed to investigate serum FA levels in AD on large number of patients of different age groups.
(2) Trials on FA supplements in AD patient with proven low serum levels are recommended with assessment of disease severity and activity, as well as therapeutic response.
(3) Correlation studies of serum FA with different disease severity and activity markers are recommended.