title: Role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In humans, oxidative stress is involved in many diseases such as atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease, Fragile X syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a non-contagious, relapsing inflammatory skin disease which is characterized by eczema and pruritus. The skin reacts abnormally to irritants, food and environmental allergens and it becomes very itchy, which leads to scratching, redness and flaky skin. Very little study has been done to find out the relationship between oxidative stress and Atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our work was to evaluate the status of oxidative stress in patients of Atopic dermatitis in comparison with healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five patients of known Atopic dermatitis and 25 normal healthy controls of same age group were included in the study. Estimations of oxidants like Malondialdehyde (MDA), enzymatic antioxidants like Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and non-enzymatic antioxidants like reduced Glutathione (GSH), Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin C were done to assess the oxidative stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atopic dermatitis patients were more prone to damage caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or Oxidants, than controls, which was evident from an increase of Malondialdehyde and a decrease of enzymatic and non enzymatic Antioxidants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antioxidants may possibly be beneficial in the treatment of Atopic dermatitis, which must be substantiated by further studies.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital , Perambalur-621212, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sivaranjani
authors.affiliation: Professor and HOD, Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital , Perambalur-621212, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: S Venkata
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Tutor, Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital , Perambalur-621212, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajeev
keywords: Antioxidants; Atopic dermatitis; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species (ROS)