title: Inpatient treatment for severe atopic dermatitis in a Traditional Korean Medicine hospital: introduction and retrospective chart review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with atopic dermatitis increasingly seek complementary and alternative medical treatment. A number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of herbs and acupuncture in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Some patients with extensive disease, outpatient treatment failure, acute deterioration or highly impaired everyday functioning require inpatient care. The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate inpatient treatments for severe atopic dermatitis patients at a Traditional Korean Medicine hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of inpatients with severe atopic dermatitis between March 2008 and October 2011. Eligibility criteria for inclusion were: (1) a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis according to the criteria established by Hanifin and Rajka and (2) hospitalisation because of severe atopic dermatitis (objective scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) score ≥ 40).
  
  
  METHODS
  The SCORAD score was assessed by trained investigators at admission and discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 37 inpatients, there were 29 patients who met the criteria. Patients received treatments including acupuncture, herbal medicine and herbal wet wrap dressings. The mean total scoring SCORAD decreased from 60.63 to 37.37 during hospitalisation. Despite the relatively small sample size, these findings were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In atopic dermatitis, Traditional Korean Medicine effectively decreased clinical disease severity. This study's weaknesses include the relatively small number of patients, some aspects of the study design, lack of follow-up assessment and lack of second measurement.
authors: Department of Oriental Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Younghee
authors: Y
authors: Yun
authors: Seungdeok
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Sehyun
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Inhwa
authors: I
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts