Comparison of Clinical Severity and Laboratory Results between Atopic and Non-atopic Eczema in Children

Shin, Jung Eun; Jeon, You Hoon; Yang, Hyeon Jong; Pyun, Bok Yang

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aim to compare clinical severity of atopic and non-atopic eczema in children and examine the relationship between total-IgE, eosinophil counts, Eosinophil, Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and clinical severity of atopic dermatitis (AD).
METHODS
A total of 271 children diagnosed with AD at the Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from October 2005 to March 2008 were enrolled for this study and divided into 2 groups: atopic and non-atopic eczema. Serum concentrations of total- and specific-IgE, eosinophil counts and ECP were measured. Allergy skin tests were also performed and the SCORAD index was used to evaluate clinical severity. Comparisons the SCORAD index and serum total-IgE, eosinophil count and ECP between the 2 groups were made.
RESULTS
Of the 271 patients, 162 (59.8%) were included in the atopic eczema group, while 109 (40.2%) were included in the non-atopic group according to the laboratory results. Serum total- IgE, eosinophil counts, ECP, the SCORAD index and the frequency of a family history of eczema were relatively higher in the atopic group. In the atopic group, serum total-IgE, eosinophil counts and ECP each had a statistically significant correlation with the SCORAD index with eosinophil counts showing the highest correlation. However, only eosinophil counts had a statistically significant correlation with the SCORAD index in the non-atopic group.
CONCLUSION
Serum total-IgE, eosinophil counts, and ECP can be used as markers for clinical severity in patients with atopic eczema, while eosinophil counts be used as marker for clinical severity in those with non-atopic eczema.