OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION DURING SLEEP IN ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Measurements of oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) were made during sleep in 1 0 patients with atopic dermatitis. Two groups of healthy children acte d as controls. Ah subjects were studied in bed in an environmental tem perature of 24-26 degrees C, and sleep was confirmed during continuous electroencephalographic monitoring. Mean (SD) values of Vo(2) in slee ping patients who were not scratching ranged from 4.0 (0.4) to 7.4 (0. 7), which was not statistically significantly different from control v alues which ranged from 3.24 (0.3) to 5.56 (0.4). During scratching (w hile asleep), which occurred in nine out of 10 patients with atopic de rmatitis, the mean values of Vo(2) ranged from 4.5 (0.04) to 10.4 (2.7 ), and this was significantly higher than the non-scratching patients and the control values. Scratching during sleep in children with atopi c dermatitis is associated with increased Vo(2).