Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, noncontagious and pruritic skin disorder. Vitamin D has major effects on the innate and adaptive immunity, which make the association between vitamin D and allergic diseases a field of interest.
Objective
The aim of the study was to estimate the serum level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to Staphylococcus aureus in patients with AD and their correlation with disease severity.
Patients and methods
Thirty patients were enrolled in this case–control study. Diagnosis of AD was made according to the UK Working Party diagnostic criteria for AD. Disease severity determination by SCORAD index and measurement of 25(OH)D and specific IgE to S. aureus in the sera of the patients were performed. Twenty age-matched and sex-matched apparently healthy individuals were also included in the study as controls.
Results
The mean value of 25(OH)D was significantly lower in the AD patients group compared with the control group, and 66.7% of the AD patients had insufficient or deficient vitamin D. In this study, an inverse correlation between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and the severity of disease was found. The mean value of specific IgE to S. aureus was significantly increased in patients than in controls. There was a significant correlation between specific IgE to S. aureus and the severity of AD and an inverse correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and IgE to S. aureus.
Conclusion
Vitamin D may be insufficient or deficient in a subset of AD children, especially those with moderate and severe disease; these patients were sensitive to S. aureus.