Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.
2012 Sep;32(3):190-192.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment to Severe Atopic Dermatitis with Transient Immunoglobulin G Deficiency
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Some studies have reported that intravenous immunoglobulin is an effective treatment of severe atopic dermatitis.
CASE HISTORY: A 3-month-old by present suffered from atopic dermatitis with skin infection since the age of 50 days. He was fed on breast milk and had no familial history of allergy. Upon admission, his body weight was 6.9 kg (50 percentile), and the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis was 80. Laboratory test results were as follows: white blood cell 23.1x103/uL, eosinophil (%) 29%, immunoglobulin E 696.2 IU/mL, immunoglobulin G 126 mg/dL (176~601 mg/dL), immunoglobulin A 14.7 mg/dL (1.3~53 mg/dL), immunoglobulin M 31.7 mg/dL (17~105 mg/dL). Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the erosive cheek by skin cultures. Specific immunoglobulin E levels to egg white, soy, and peanut were elevated. He was initially treated with intravenous antibiotics, wet dressing, steroid ointments, and mother's dietary restriction. However, the skin infection and atopic dermatitis remained uncontrolled, and the immunoglobulin G level was still below the normal range. The patient was given intravenous immunoglobulin 1 g/kg/day for 2 consecutive days.
RESULTS
After 4 days, the skin infection was controlled. After 9 months, immunoglobulin G level was normalized.
CONCLUSION
We reported a patient who was diagnosed with severe atopic dermatitis with transient immunoglobulin G deficiency and whose symptoms improved after intravenous administration of immunoglobulin.