Introduction

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis includes genetic predisposition, epidermal barrier dysfunction, immunologic abnormalities and increased immunoglobulin E levels in some of the patients.

Objective

Determination the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E level and serum interleukin-33 concentration in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Material and methods

The study included 62 patients with atopic dermatitis at the mean age of 30.4 ±11.6 years. Clinical eveluation of the SCORAD index and the objective SCORAD (oSCORAD) was performed. Serum samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin E specific allergy using immunoblot kits for 21 allergens of atopy. Serum concentration of interleukin-33 was examined by ELISA.

Results

The SCORAD index was higher (p < 0.05) in atopic dermatitis patients with immunoglobulin E specific to birch, dog fur, horse fur, Cladosporium herbarum, egg white, hazelnut, carrot, and potato than in those without such allergen-specific immunoglobulin E. Objective SCORAD was increased (p < 0.05) in atopic dermatitis patients with immunoglobulin E specific to birch, dog fur, Cladosporium herbarum, egg white, hazelnut, carrot, and potato in comparison to those without such allergen-specific immunoglobulin E. Mean serum concentration of interleukin-33 in patients with atopic dermatitis was 4.9 ±8.12 pg/ml. Serum interleukin-33 level did not correlate with such clinical parameters as the extent of skin lesions, pruritus, sleep disorders, SCORAD index and objective SCORAD. Interleukin-33 level was not higher in atopic dermatitis patients with immunoglobulin E specific to any examined antigen in comparison to those without such immunoglobulin E.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that interleukin-33 is not a reliable marker of activity in atopic dermatitis. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.