Atopic dermatitis: insights from linkage overlap and disease co-morbidity.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a strongly heritable, chronic relapsing dermatosis that frequently co-occurs with other atopic phenotypes including asthma and allergic rhinitis (the so-called atopic triad disorders). However, despite high levels of co-morbidity, relatively low levels of genomic co-incidence have been observed between atopic triad disorders. Conversely, current mapping data have revealed a striking pattern of co-localisation between AD disease loci and those mapped using another chronic dermatological disease - psoriasis. In this review, we examine the evidence for co-localisation between AD and a range of atopic, infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and consider the implications of these data for the AD disease concept and future research in the field.
Willis-Owen
Saffron A G
SA
National Heart and Lung Institute, Guy Scadding Building, Dovehouse St, London, SW3 6LY, UK. s.willis-owen@imperial.ac.uk
Morar
Nilesh
N
Willis-Owen
Charles A
CA
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*