ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS AND SEVERE FACIAL LESIONS

Background: In adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), the presenc e of autoantibodies such as anti-IgE and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) has been demonstrated. The patients may have altered immune regulation . Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of ANA in AD patients with severe facial eruptions and to evaluate the d ifferences between ANA-positive and ANA-negative AD patients. Methods: ANA, blood eosinophil count, total serum IgE levels, specific ISE ant ibody to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, disease duration, photosensit ivity and association with respiratory allergic diseases were checked in 89 AD patients. Results: Twenty-three (25.8%) AD patients showed po sitive ANA at titers ranging from 1:40 to 1:640, and the incidence of positive ANA was 12.1% in controls. Twenty-five (71.4%) of 35 AD patie nts with positive ANA at titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:640 were female s. Conclusion: Adult AD patients with severe facial lesions should be examined for serum ANA. Particularly in female and photosensitive AD p atients with severe facial lesions, serum autoantibodies have to be ca refully investigated to differentiate from autoimmune diseases.