It is possible to predict the future onset of atopic dermatitis as early as 2 months after birth.
A joint research team led by Professor Kang-Mo Ahn and Ji-Hyeon Kim from the Department of Pediatrics at Samsung Hospital Seoul, and Professor Donald Leung and Professor Yevgeny Berdysev from National Jewish Health, USA, published the results of a study linked last month. They discovered skin lipid indicators associated with atopic dermatitis for the first time in the world and published a method for predicting early at 2 months of age whether or not atopic dermatitis will develop before 2 years of age.
The research team collected the stratum corneum of the skin with tape from the arms of 111 2-month-old babies with no skin abnormalities. Skin lipid composition and cytokines were then analysed, followed up to 24 months of age.
Consequently, cytokine changes in skin and skin lipid composition were already occurring 2 months after birth, before the onset of atopic dermatitis. Specifically, if there is a family history of allergy, IL-13 and 26:1 unsaturated sphingomyelin in the skin are high, and ceramide binding protein (O30:0 (C20S)-CER) is low, the possibility of atopic dermatitis. up to 54 times
The research team said, “Prediction of atopic dermatitis is very important because it can reduce patients’ pain and medical burden through early intervention. It is expected to open the foundation for medical treatment.”
The researchers <알레르기·임상면역학저널>(Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, IF=14.29). This study was presented at the American Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology held in the United States at the end of last month, drawing great attention. This study was supported by the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Institute of Environmental Industry and Technology.
Atopic dermatitis is a disease in which the number of patients is gradually increasing in Korea. Atopic dermatitis, a representative environmental disease, is increasing in incidence worldwide due to industrialization, westernization of living environment, and climate change.
On 19 September last year, according to government audit data presented by Congressman Han Jeong-ae of the Democratic Party from the National Health Insurance Service, the number of atopic dermatitis clinics per 100,000 of the population increased from 1833 in 2016 to 1924 in 2021, an increase of around 5.0% over 5 years. .
In particular, it has been shown that the number of adult patients with atopic dermatitis is increasing recently. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of atopic dermatitis clinics per 100,000 of the population decreased by 2.6% among children under 17 years of age. On the other hand, it increased by 27.3% among those aged 18 and over.
※ Chosun Weekly online article.
