Atopic dermatitis in adults: clinical and epidemiological considerations.

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease causing intense pruritus, and with typical clinical features. There are few epidemiological studies concerning AD in adults, as well as little information about its prognostic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological course of adults with AD. METHODS: 80 patients aged above 18 years (mean age=29 years) were selected (30 males and 50 females) and interviewed about hospitalization, systemic corticoid usage, age of AD onset, and personal and/or familial history of atopy. Disease severity was evaluated through the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) tool. Laboratory examination included IgE serum levels and eosinophil blood count. RESULTS: 71 out of 80 patients referred association with respiratory symptoms (18 had asthma, 17 had rhinitis, and 36 had both conditions); nine out of 80 patients denied any respiratory disease. AD patients were divided in mild (n=25), moderate (n=30), and severe (n=25); 56% had one or more hospitalizations due to AD. A positive association was found between IgE serum levels, eosinophil blood count, and disease severity. CONCLUSION: Adult AD represents a clinical challenge that needs to be better characterized, since it can be misdiagnosed and interferes with the patient's social and personal life. The association of skin and respiratory atopic disease is frequent, and laboratory parameters such as circulating IgE levels and eosinophil blood count may be helpful to assess disease severity.

Atopic dermatitis in adults: clinical and epidemiological considerations / Dermatite atópica em adultos: considerações clínicas e epidemiológicas

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease causing intense pruritus, and with typical clinical features. There are few epidemiological studies concerning AD in adults, as well as little information about its prognostic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological course of adults with AD. METHODS: 80 patients aged above 18 years (mean age = 29 years) were selected (30 males and 50 females) and interviewed about hospitalization, systemic corticoid usage, age of AD onset, and personal and/or familial history of atopy. Disease severity was evaluated through the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) tool. Laboratory examination included IgE serum levels and eosinophil blood count. RESULTS: 71 out of 80 patients referred association with respiratory symptoms (18 had asthma, 17 had rhinitis, and 36 had both conditions); nine out of 80 patients denied any respiratory disease. AD patients were divided in mild (n = 25), moderate (n = 30), and severe (n = 25); 56% had one or more hospitalizations due to AD. A positive association was found between IgE serum levels, eosinophil blood count, and disease severity. CONCLUSION: Adult AD represents a clinical challenge that needs to be better characterized, since it can be misdiagnosed and interferes with the patient's social and personal life. The association of skin and respiratory atopic disease is frequent, and laboratory parameters such as circulating IgE levels and eosinophil blood count may be helpful to assess disease severity.

OBJETIVO: Dermatite atópica (DA) é uma doenc¸a inflamatória crônica com prurido intenso e características clínicas típicas. Há poucos estudos epidemiológicos a respeito da DA em adultos, bem como pouca informação disponível sobre o seu prognóstico. O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar as características clínicas e o curso epidemiológico dos adultos com DA. MÉTODOS: Foramselecionados 80 pacientes com idade acima de 18 anos (média de idade = 29 anos, 30 homens e 50 mulheres), que foram entrevistados sobre: internações, uso de corticóide sistêmico, idade de início da DA, história pessoal e/ou familiar de atopia. A gravidade da doença foi avaliada de acordo com o SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). A avaliação laboratorial incluiu dosagem sérica de IgE e contagem sanguínea de eosinófilos. RESULTADOS: 71 dos 80 pacientes referiram associação com sintomas respiratórios (18: asma, 17: rinite alérgica e 36: ambas as condições); nove dos 80 indivíduos negaram qualquer sintoma respiratório. Os pacientes com DA foram divididos em DA leve (n = 25), moderada (n = 30) e grave (n = 25); destes, 56% tiveram uma ou mais internações por conta da doença. Verificou-se uma associação entre níveis séricos de IgE, contagem sanguínea de eosinófilos e gravidade da doença. CONCLUSÃO: A DA do adulto representa um desafio clínico que necessita ser melhor caracterizado, uma vez que pode ser erroneamente diagnosticada, e interfere diretamente na vida social e pessoal dos pacientes. A associação entre manifestação respiratória e cutânea é frequente, e parâmetros laboratoriais como níveis de IgE circulante e contagem sanguínea de eosinófilos podem ser úteis para acompanhar a gravidade e evolução da doença.