Differences in fecal microflora between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy control subjects.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), has been increasing. However, few investigations have been made of the intestinal microflora in Japanese patients with AD.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in microflora, fecal serum IgA concentrations, and skin IgA contents between patients with AD and healthy control subjects.


METHODS
This trial was conducted as a case-control study using 30 minor patients with AD and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (n = 68). One week after a questionnaire was administered, fecal specimens and 24-hour skin secretion specimens were collected from all subjects. Fecal microflora, fecal IgA concentrations, and IgA contents on the skin surface were analyzed.


RESULTS
The counts of Bifidobacterium (in log10 colony-forming units per gram) were significantly lower in patients with AD than in healthy control subjects (9.75 +/- 0.68 vs 10.10 +/- 0.50 log(10) colony-forming units/g, P <.05). In particular, percentages of Bifidobacterium were significantly lower in patients with severe skin symptoms than in those with mild skin symptoms (40% +/- 6% vs 19% +/- 6%, P <.05). In addition, the frequency of occurrence of Staphylococcus was significantly higher in patients with AD than in healthy control subjects (83% vs 59%, P <.05). There were no significant differences in fecal IgA content or IgA content on the skin between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with AD had lower counts of Bifidobacterium than healthy control subjects, and the frequency of Staphylococcus was higher in patients with AD than in control subjects. Disorder of the intestinal microflora might play a role in the onset of AD and the aggravation of skin symptoms.
Watanabe
Shinichi
S
Department of Dermatology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Narisawa
Yutaka
Y
Arase
Seiji
S
Okamatsu
Hiroshi
H
Ikenaga
Takeshi
T
Tajiri
Yoshito
Y
Kumemura
Megumi
M
D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry
D007070:Immunoglobulin A