title: Atopic dermatitis: correlation between non-damaged skin barrier function and disease activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic dermatosis, predominant in childhood, characterized by pruritus and eczematous-type lesions with xerosis as the prominent clinical sign.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the correlation between biophysical measurements of skin barrier function and other assessment criteria of clinical severity according to Rajka and Langeland's criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biophysical measurements [transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and corneometry] were obtained from 120 patients with the diagnosis of AD. Serum levels of IgE were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation between corneometry, TEWL, and clinical severity of AD was found. Data showed an inverse correlation between corneometry, TEWL, and AD severity, and a significant difference (P < 0.001) between mean of corneometry and TEWL and AD severity (mild, moderate, and severe). As for IgE levels, corneometry had significant negative correlation, in contrast with TEWL, which showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biophysical measurements of skin barrier in non-lesional skin of AD may work as an evaluation factor for AD severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia A S
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Addor
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takaoka
authors.forename: Evandro A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rivitti
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E