Key clinical point : Stratum corneum (SC) lipid and cytokine levels in infants aged 2 months can predict the future onset of atopic dermatitis (AD) up to 2 years of age.
Major finding: The SC levels of protein-bound ceramides were decreased ( P = .0058), whereas those of unsaturated sphingomyelin ( P < .0001), thymic stromal lymphopoietin ( P = .0032), and interleukin-13 (IL13; P < .0001) increased in infants with vs without a family history of atopic diseases. A combination of family history and high IL13, high 26:1-sphingomyelin, and low O30:0(C22S)-ceramide levels had a strong predictive power for AD onset by 2 years of age (adjusted odds ratio 54.0; 95% CI 9.2-317.5).
Study details: This observational study included 111 asymptomatic infants with or without a family history of atopic diseases who underwent skin tape strip analysis at 2 months of age.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Edelstein Family Chair of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology at National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and the Korea Environment Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) through Environmental Health Action Program, funded by Korea Ministry of Environment. Some authors reported ties with various organizations.
Source: Berdyshev E et al. Stratum corneum lipid and cytokine biomarkers at two months of age predict the future onset of atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol . 2023 (Feb 22). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.02.013