Evaluation of phagocytes in atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Patients with atopic dermatitis frequently present recurrent infections by pyogenic bacteria or by intracellular microorganisms, suggesting an immune disorder.


OBJECTIVE
Laboratorial investigation of phagocyte activity and chemotactic response by neutrophilic polymorphonuclear and mononuclear phagocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with atopic dermatitis from moderate to severe.


METHODS
Through a transversal study, patients with atopic dermatitis from moderate to severe were selected. The neutrophilic and mononuclear phagocytes were separated and the phagocytic ingestion of zymosan particles was analysed, in addition to migration distance to the bacterial lipopolysaccharide chemotactic factor, comparing the results to the values obtained from healthy individuals within the same age group.


RESULTS
Nineteen patients were selected, 11 female and 8 male. The mean age was 6.47 years (+/-4.65). Among the 19 patients studied, 14 (73.68%) presented a reduction in the neutrophilic and mononuclear phagocyte activity, with two (1.53%) patients presenting a reduction in the activity of both phagocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrated a reduction in chemotactic response and phagocytic activity by neutrophilic and/or mononuclear phagocytes in the majority of patients with atopic dermatitis from moderate to severe. Our results were coherent with the clinical data concerning the higher incidence of infections by pyogenic bacteria and fungi in patients with atopic dermatitis, which are microorganisms that require defence by the phagocytes researched in the present study.
Santa Casa Medical School and Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. wilmanevesforte@yahoo.com.br
W C N
WC
Forte
V C
VC
Guardian
P A
PA
Mantovani
P C L
PC
Dionigi
M C S
MC
Menezes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult; D015054:Zymosan / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D015054:Zymosan