SERUM AND SALIVARY IGA IN ATOPIC-DERMATIT IS

IgA system has been poorly studied in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous studies have showed that a transient serum IgA deficien cy in infancy could lead to atopic disease. In addition, decrease in s alivary IgA has been demonstrated in patients with AD. The purpose of our work was to study the IgA system both in serum and saliva in patie nts with AD. Patients and Method. We conducted a controlled prospectiv e study from January 1994 to May 1996. 46 patients with AD and 52 heal thy volunteers matched for sere and age were included. Atopic patients fulfilled at least three major and three minor features defined by Ha nifin and Rajka. None above atopic criteria were present in the contro l group. Saliva was collected using a small cylinder of a cotton-wool- like substance (Salivette(R)) kept in the buccal fold. Serum and saliv a samples were assayed for IgA using standard nephelometric method and time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. Secretory IgA were assayed by a sandwich-type enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Blood eosinophils and serum IgE were also evaluated. Results. IgA and secretory IgA were detected in all serum and saliva collected. No statistically signific ant difference were observed in serum or in saliva for both IgA and se cretory IgA between patients with AD and controls. As expected, blood eosinophils and serum IgE were significantly increased in patients wit h AD. Discussion. None patient (atopic or control) exhibited IgA defic iency. Although no statistically significant, a trend to higher concen trations of serum and salivary IgA was observed in patients with AD su ggesting a stimulation of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in these p atients.