BACKGROUND There have been considerable disagreements regarding the therapeutic effects of probiotics in atopic dermatitis (AD). We performed this study to examine whether the oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 improves pediatric AD. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, either L. plantarum CJLP133 at a dosage of 0.5 × 10(10) colony-forming units...

BACKGROUND There are little objective data regarding the optimal practice methods of bathing, although bathing and the use of moisturizers are the most important facets to atopic dermatitis (AD) management. OBJECTIVE We performed this study to evaluate the effect of bathing on AD. METHODS Ninety-six children with AD were enrolled during the summer season. Parents were educated to bathe them...

OBJECTIVES 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 stud...

PURPOSE The clinical usefulness of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is still controversial. We analyzed the clinical efficacy of SCIT in patients with AD and the clinical characteristics of patients showing a favorable clinical response to the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred and fifty one patients with AD sensitized to house du...

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is known to predate asthma and other atopic disorders described under the term "atopic march". However, this classic sequence is not always present and only a few studies have addressed children at risk of developing asthma. The objective of this study is to define early-onset AD phenotypes leading to asthma. METHODS We performed a cluster analysis with 9 var...

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis often has an allergic component, and immunotherapy may therefore prove beneficial. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in children with atopic dermatitis. METHODS Children age 5 to 16 years with atopic dermatitis (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD] > 7) and sensitization to dust mites alone, without food allergy or chronic asthma, w...

Introduction Recent reports proposed the application of immunoadsorption (IA) for patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis (AD) and high-serum IgE levels. However, experience with this novel treatment approach, especially with the newly available IgE-specific adsorber, is limited and recommendation for its use in clinical practice awaits evidence from more studies. Materials and methods P...

BACKGROUND The impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on children's quality of life (QoL) in US and European countries is relatively well known, though rarely evaluated in the Italian population. Moreover, the association between child age and QoL has not been enough investigated, even though few studies detected a worse QoL in youngest AD children. The aim of the study was to evaluate the QoL in an ...