title: Utility of serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine as a biomarker for monitoring of atopic dermatitis severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (sTARC) levels reflect disease severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in small study populations. It remains unclear whether sTARC is a reliable outcome measurement for AD severity in heterogeneous AD populations in daily practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the utility of sTARC as a biomarker for monitoring AD severity in adults in daily practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  sTARC, clinical skin score (Six Area, Six Sign AD [SASSAD]), and body surface area measurements were collected from all adult patients with AD visiting our clinic between March 2009 and March 2012, at first visit or exacerbation (baseline). In addition, data from short-term and long-term follow-up visits were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline sTARC levels ranged widely (n = 320; minimum-maximum: 3-50,400 pg/mL) and sTARC and SASSAD or body surface area correlated moderately. In the majority of patients, sTARC and SASSAD or body surface area changed congruently during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data were collected retrospectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sTARC may represent a suitable biomarker for monitoring of AD severity in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Landheer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruin-Weller
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boonacker
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: DirkJan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hijnen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruijnzeel-Koomen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.rockmann@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Röckmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001830:Body Surface Area; D054414:Chemokine CCL17 / Q000097:blood*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17
keywords: Six Area; Six Sign Atopic Dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; body surface area; disease severity; follow-up; serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine