Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease of childhood. Role of vitamin D due to its immunomodulatory effects about pathogenesis of the disease are being discussed recently. In our study, we planned to investigate the correlation of vitamin D deficiency and development and severity of atopic dermatitis.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients under the age of five, admitted to Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital Pediatrics Allergy outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis were included in the study. Control group consisted of thirty healthy children admitted to the pediatrics outpatient clinic of the same hospital. Atopic dermatitis patients’ files were investigated and eosinophil counts, total IgE and specific IgE levels were recorded. Disease severity was evaluated with SCORAD index. Patients with <25 points were classified as mild, patients with 25-50 points as moderate and patients with >50 points as severe. 25(OH)D levels ≥30 ng/ml were accepted as sufficient, 21-29 ng/ml as not sufficient and ≤20 ng/ml as deficiency. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age and sex between the two groups. %22.6 (n=14) of atopic dermatitis patients and %3 (n=10) of the control group had vitamin D deficiency. Average 25(OH)D vitamin levels of patients with mild SCORAD index was 39.47±18.49 and of patients with moderate SCORAD index was 25.07±13.74. Though, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p=0.059).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In our study, we found no correlations between vitamin D levels and atopic dermatitis development or disease severity.