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Atopic Dermatitis: Racial and Ethnic Differences

Mei-Yen Yong A, Tay YK

Dermatol Clin, 2017 Jul;35(3):395-402.
PMID: 28577807 DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2017.02.012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting up to 20% of children and 3% of adults worldwide. There is wide variation in the prevalence of AD among different countries. Although the frequency of AD is increasing in developing countries, it seems to have stabilized in developed countries, affecting approximately 1 in 5 schoolchildren. Adult-onset AD is not uncommon and is significantly higher, affecting between 11% and 13% of adults in some countries, for example, Singapore, Malaysia, and Sweden. AD is thus associated with significant health care economic burden in all age groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis
Sensitization to Local Seafood Allergens in Adult Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in Malaysia

Lee HL, Tang MM, Bakhtiar MF, Mohamad Yadzir ZH, Johar A

Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 2021;182(2):153-157.
PMID: 32927463 DOI: 10.1159/000510314

BACKGROUND: Seafood is an important source of nutrition in Asia. However, it was believed to cause or aggravate atopic dermatitis (AD).
OBJECTIVES: We aim to determine relevant seafood sensitization among adults with AD and investigate cross-sensitization to aeroallergens.
METHODS: One hundred thirty-two adults with AD who were subjected to skin prick test (SPT) with 7 common local seafood allergens (anchovy, tuna, mackerel, squid, giant freshwater prawn, shrimp, and crab), house dust mites (HDMs), and cockroach were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: The median age of the study subjects was 32 years (range 17-77 years) with a male to female ratio of 1:3. The mean duration of AD was 16 years. Eighty-two patients (62.2%) had other atopic conditions. Using SCORAD, 44.7% had mild, 42.4% moderate, and 12.9% severe disease. Eighty-six patients (65.2%) self-reported to have seafood allergy, with the main symptoms of transient pruritus and erythema within 2 h of ingestion. SPT revealed 51.5% of the patients were sensitized to at least 1 of the 7 seafood allergens. The relevant sensitization rate was 45.1%. Interestingly, 46% of those without a history of seafood allergy developed at least 1 positive reaction in the SPT. Prawn, shrimp, and crab were the 3 most frequently sensitized allergens. Nearly all patients (98.3%) who were sensitized to crustaceans were also sensitized to HDMs and/or cockroach. There was no significant correlation between a positive SPT to seafood with age, age of onset of AD, duration, and severity of AD, and the presence of other atopic diatheses.
CONCLUSION: The relevant sensitization rate of local seafood among adults with AD was 45.1%.

Matched MeSH terms: Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis
A systematic review on the off-label use of montelukast in atopic dermatitis treatment

Chin WK, Lee SWH

Int J Clin Pharm, 2018 Oct;40(5):963-976.
PMID: 29777328 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-018-0655-3

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema. As leukotriene mediators are involved in the inflammatory phase of atopic dermatitis, montelukast has been suggested as a possible therapy. Aim of the review To evaluate the safety and efficacy of montelukast off-label use for the treatment atopic dermatitis. Method A search was performed from database inception until March 2018 in six electronic databases for randomized-controlled-trials examining the use of montelukast for AD. Results Among 301 articles screened, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The study populations consist of paediatric and adult subjects with moderate-to-severe AD. Montelukast use was shown to improve symptoms such as pruritus in four studies. Another 2 studies reported that montelukast could improve symptoms similar to the standard regimen of topical steroid and oral antihistamine. However, five studies reported that montelukast had no effects in symptoms alleviation. The use of montelukast was associated with a similar safety profile to placebo and well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects. Conclusion There is limited evidence to suggest that the off-label use of montelukast is effective in treating moderate-to-severe AD. Further research with larger study populations employing standardized endpoint measuring instrument is warranted to further investigate the off-label use of montelukast in AD treatment. Until then, the use of conventional treatments including optimal daily skin hydration should remain the mainstay in the management of atopic dermatitis. In fact, for moderate-to-severe condition, steroid sparing immune-suppressants should still be used clinically until more effective and safer alternative is discovered.

Matched MeSH terms: Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in Malaysian children with severe atopic dermatitis

Lee YW, Choon SE, Izham S

Med J Malaysia, 2019 08;74(4):259-265.
PMID: 31424030

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be a determinant of disease severity in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). There is a lack of information on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Malaysian children with AD. The objective of this study was to determine the association of vitamin D deficiency with AD severity, to compare vitamin D deficiency between children with and without AD and to determine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with AD.
METHODS: A case-control study to examine serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in children with and without AD was done. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was measured by immunoassay. AD severity was evaluated using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index.
RESULTS: The serum levels of 25(OH)D, measured in 135 children with AD was not statistically different from 65 children without AD [median (IQR): 25.2ng/mL (15.45) vs 25.9ng/mL (15.87), p=0.616]. However, serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in children with severe AD compared to those with mild-to-moderate AD [median (IQR): 16.0ng/mL (19.32) vs 26.3ng/mL (15.56), p=0.021]. The odds of having vitamin D deficiency in children with severe AD was 3.82 times that of children with non-severe AD (95% confidence level: 1.13, 12.87).
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is an inverse association between vitamin D level and the severity of AD in Malaysian children.

Matched MeSH terms: Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis