title: Increased serum B cell-activating factor level in children with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a tumour necrosis factor superfamily member best known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. BAFF activity is seen in naïve and effector/memory T cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level and role of BAFF in serum of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of serum BAFF, a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and total serum IgE level, and total eosinophil count were measured in 245 children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (AE) (n = 90) or non-AE (n = 77); the remainder were healthy control subjects (n = 78). Serum BAFF level in children with AE (1625.04 +/- 708.32 pg/mL) was significantly higher than in non-AE children (1194.69 +/- 448.44 pg/mL, P < 0.0001) or healthy controls (1062.89 +/- 444.74 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Serum APRIL level was not different between the three groups. Serum BAFF level significantly correlated with total serum IgE level (gamma = 0.42, P < 0.0001) and total eosinophil count. It was also positively correlated with serum BAFF and egg-specific IgE level (gamma = 0.252, P = 0.045) in AE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum BAFF level is high in AE and might be a useful marker for AE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers