Association of T helper type 2 cytokines with sensitization to food in pediatric atopic dermatitis patients

Background: childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) most commonly presentswith sensitization to environmental allergens. Presence of food allergenspecificIgE is common in childhood and does not always correlate withclinical symptoms, which in children usually affect the skin and mayexacerbate the course of AD. Exposure to an allergen in the gastrointestinaltract activates Th2 immune reactions. Objective: with this study we wantedto compare blood and stool Th2 cytokine concentrations and fecalcalprotectin (FC) value in pediatric AD with (eAD) and without (iAD)sensitization to food. Methods: 51 children with AD were enrolled in thestudy. 57% (n=29) had food allergen specific IgE and comprised eADgroup, 43% (n=22) – iAD group. Blood and stool were tested for IL-4, IL-5,IL-13 concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Stoolsamples were tested for FC concentrations. Results: iAD had significantlyhigher blood and stool IL-4 values than eAD: 2.82 pg/ml vs. 0, p=0.005;2.98 pg/ml vs. 0, p=0.007, respectively. There was no difference in IL-5 andIL-13 blood and stool concentrations between the groups. Children with ADhad significantly higher FC values, compared to healthy controls: 36.5mg/kg vs. 6.45 mg/kg, p=0.018. FC was slightly higher in eAD group thaniAD, but the difference was not significant: 38.5 mg/kg vs. 25.0 mg/kg,p=0.861 . Conclusions: sensitization to food is not significantly associatedwith Th2 cytokines in pediatric AD patients. Increase in FC values ischaracteristic to AD, but not sensitization to food.