Association between P478S polymorphism of the filaggrin gene & atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), allergy and asthma, are complex diseases resulting from the effect of multiple genetic and interacting environmental factors on their pathophysiology. The genetic basis is incompletely understood; however, recent studies have shown an association between loss-of-function variants of the filaggrin gene (FLG) and atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether FLG variants can serve as a predictor for atopic diseases in Korean individuals. METHODS: A total of 648 subjects were genotyped for the FLG P478S (rs11584340, C/T base change) polymorphism (322 patients and 326 controls). Serum levels of free fatty acids (FFA) and IgE were later stratified to determine the effects of the FLG polymorphism on AD. RESULTS: A significant difference in genotype frequency was found between AD patients and controls in the FLG P478S polymorphism. The FLG P478S T allele carrier (TT+TC) was associated with AD risk (odds ratio = 1.877, 95% confidence interval 1.089 to 3.234). In addition, the P478S T allele was related to high levels of FFA in AD patients (471.79 ± 298.96 vs. 333.54 ± 175.82 µg eq/l, P <0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the FLG P478S polymorphism alone and combined with other factors influences FFA levels and increases the susceptibility to AD.

A single dose of anti-D immunoglobulin raises platelet count as efficiently as intravenous immunoglobulin in newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenic purpura in Korean children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of a single dose of anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D) at 50 mug/kg to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Korean children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS: We performed this study prospectively by randomly administering 2 consecutive doses of IVIG at a dose of 1.0 g/kg/dor a single dose of anti-D at 50 microg/kg to children upon initial diagnosis of acute ITP. The platelet count and adverse events, including hemoglobin concentration, were then serially evaluated, and the responses were compared. RESULTS: The likelihood of having a platelet count greater than 20x10/mm after 3 days of treatment in the IVIG and anti-D group was 93% and 92%, respectively. In addition, hemoglobin concentration in the anti-D group had declined more than that of the IVIG group (1.49 g/dL vs. 0.80 g/dL, P=0.014) 3 days after treatment. Fever, chills, and headache occurred less frequently in the anti-D group than the IVIG group, however, this difference was not statistically significant (25% vs. 45%, P=0.494). CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of 50 microg/kg of anti-D raised platelet count as efficiently as IVIG in newly diagnosed cases of ITP in Korean children. Although 50 microg/kg of anti-D had a greater effect on the hemoglobin concentration than IVIG, the adverse effects were found to be acceptable, and no serious events were observed.