Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2011 Sep;21(3):215-225.

The Relationship between Atopic Dermatitis, Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine/CCL17, Quality of Life, and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschool Children

• Park DH
• Chung SH
• Shim JW
• Kim DS
• Jung HL
• Park MS
• Shim JY

Abstract

PURPOSE
Atopic dermatitis may impair quality of life and lead to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17 may serve as a new biomarker for atopic dermatitis. We investigated the relationship between TARC and the severity of atopic dermatitis, quality of life, and ADHD.
METHODS
A total of 249 preschool children who had atopic dermatitis were enrolled. Parents of the patients filled out a questionnaire on the past history of allergic diseases, quality of life, and ADHD. In each patient, total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and specific IgE to nine foods and inhalant allergens, total eosinophil counts, and TARC levels were measured. We evaluated the severity of atopic dermatitis by using the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) score and divided the patients into three groups; mild (<15), moderate (15 to 40), and severe (>40).
RESULTS
In a total of 249 children, 222 children (89.2%) had a history of atopic dermatitis. Children with allergic sensitization had a higher SCORAD score, total IgE levels, and total eosinophil counts, but not TARC levels. Three groups by the SCORAD score showed significant differences in quality of life index and TARC levels but not in ADHD index. TARC level was correlated with the SCORAD score, but not with the quality of life index and ADHD index. The SCORAD score was correlated with the quality of life index but not with the ADHD index.
CONCLUSION
Serum TARC levels may be associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis but not with the degree of quality of life and ADHD. Disease severity of atopic dermatitis in preschool children may be associated with the degree of quality of life but not with the level of ADHD.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Chemokine CCL17; Quality of life; Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Child

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Chemokine CCL17
Child
Child, Preschool
Dermatitis, Atopic
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Parents
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thymus Gland
Allergens
Chemokine CCL17
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Correlations of scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index with serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) level, quality of life (QoL) index and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) index. SCORAD index showed significant correlation with serum TARC level (A) and QoL index (B), but not with ADHD index (C).

• 

  Fig. 2. Correlation of serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) level with quality of life (QoL) index and attention deficit/hyperacti-vity disorder (ADHD) index. Serum TARC level was not correlated with either QoL index (A) or ADHD index (B).

Reference

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