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Clinical improvement and significant reduction of total serum IgE in patients suffering from severe atopic dermatitis treated with oral azathioprine
Author(s) -
Kuanprasert Natita,
Herbert Oliver,
Barnetson Ross StC
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00573.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , azathioprine , immunoglobulin e , pancytopenia , incidence (geometry) , adverse effect , allergy , dermatology , atopy , gastroenterology , disease , immunology , antibody , bone marrow , physics , optics
SUMMARY Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease: the incidence is increasing in many countries and treatment can be difficult. The aim of this retrospective case series was to examine the effect of oral azathioprine on the clinical severity and serum IgE levels in 38 patients with severe atopic dermatitis. The AD was well‐controlled in nearly 80% (30/38). The maintenance dose required was in the range 25–200 mg per day. Four patients withdrew because of adverse affects, including one case of pancytopenia and a further four ceased azathioprine after 4 months because of a lack of clinical improvement. Total serum IgE levels were measured before commencing azathioprine and after two years of treatment in 26 patients. IgE levels decreased in almost all patients and this was statistically significant ( P = 0.012).