Applications of photodynamic therapy in keratitis.

Keratitis is corneal inflammatory disease which may be caused by several reason such as an injury, allergy, as well as a microbial infection. Besides these, overexposure to ultraviolet light and unhygienic practice of contact lenses are also associated with keratitis. Based on the cause of keratitis, different lines of treatments are recommended. Photodynamic therapy is a promising approach that utilizes light activated compounds to instigate either killing or healing mechanism to treat various diseases including both communicable and non-communicable diseases. This review focuses on clinically-important patent applications and the recent literature for the use of photodynamic therapy against keratitis.

The polymorphisms of candidate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic genes and their pharmacogenetic impacts on the effectiveness of risperidone maintenance therapy among Saudi children with autism.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotics, including risperidone (RIS), are frequently indicated for various autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifestations; however, "actionable" PGx testing in psychiatry regarding antipsychotic dosing and selection has limited applications in routine clinical practice because of the lack of standard guidelines, mostly due to the inconsistency and scarcity of genetic variant data. The current study is aimed at examining the association of RIS effectiveness, according to ABC-CV and CGI indexes, with relevant pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) genes. METHODS: Eighty-nine ASD children who received a consistent RIS-based regimen for at least 8 weeks were included. The Axiom PharmacoFocus Array technique was employed to generate accurate star allele-predicted phenotypes of 3 PK genes (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2D6). Genotype calls for 5 candidate PD receptor genes (DRD1, DRD2, DRD3, HTR2C, and HTR2A) were obtained and reported as wild type, heterozygous, or homozygous for 11 variants. RESULTS: Based on the ABC total score, 42 (47.2%) children were classified as responders, while 47 (52.8%) were classified as nonresponders. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusted for nongenetic factors, suggested nonsignificant impacts of the star allele-predicted phenotypes of all 3 PK genes on improvement in ASD symptoms or CGI scores. However, significant positive or negative associations of certain PD variants involved in dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways were observed with specific ASD core and noncore symptom subdomains. Our significant polymorphism findings, mainly those in DRD2 (rs1800497, rs1799978, and rs2734841), HTR2C (rs3813929), and HTR2A (rs6311), were largely consistent with earlier findings (predictors of RIS effectiveness in adult schizophrenia patients), confirming their validity for identifying ASD children with a greater likelihood of core symptom improvement compared to noncarriers/wild types. Other novel findings of this study, such as significant improvements in DRD3 rs167771 carriers, particularly in ABC total and lethargy/social withdrawal scores, and DRD1 rs1875964 homozygotes and DRD2 rs1079598 wild types in stereotypic behavior, warrant further verification in biochemical and clinical studies to confirm their feasibility for inclusion in a PGx panel. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we provide evidence of potential genetic markers involved in clinical response variability to RIS therapy in ASD children. However, replication in prospective samples with greater ethnic diversity and sample sizes is necessary.

Anticoagulative activity of Commiphora gileadensis, aspirin, and heparin on blood coagulation profiles in naïve mice.

Objective: Commiphora gileadensis is a small tree under the genus Commiphora. Previous studies showed medical applications, such as antibacterial and antihypertensive, for C. gileadensis. Methods: Sixty naïve mice were classified into six groups: control, C. gileadensis sap-treated group, C. gileadensis methanol extract-treated group, C. gileadensis acetone extract-treated group, heparin-treated group, and aspirin-treated group. Blood samples from each mouse in the six groups were collected in EDTA, sodium citrate, and heparin tubes. The body weight of each mouse was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Furthermore, complete blood count, kidney and renal function tests, coagulation profiles, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, and fibrinogen concentrations were estimated for each mouse. Results: The sodium, potassium, chloride, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels did not show statistical differences between all groups. Moreover, PT, aPTT, and INR were prolonged in the C. gileadensis sap, methanol, and acetone extracts-treated mice compared with those in the heparin and aspirin-treated groups (P < 0.01). D-dimer and fibrinogen concentrations did not show significant statistical differences between all groups. Conclusion: The current study concludes that the C. gileadensis sap, methanol, and acetone extracts prolonged PT, aPTT, and bleeding time in naïve mice more than heparin and aspirin. This means that the C. gileadensis extracts may have antithrombotic activity and may be used in the future to resolve intravascular thrombosis in patients having prosthetic valves.

The Frequency of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 Genotypes and The Impact of Their Allele Translation and Phenoconversion-Predicted Enzyme Activity on Risperidone Pharmacokinetics in Saudi Children with Autism.

Data on the role of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 polymorphisms in relation to risperidone (RIS) pharmacokinetics (PK) in children are relatively limited and inconsistent. This is partially attributable to the limited coverage of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 metabolizer phenotypes, particularly those of poor and ultrarapid metabolizers (PMs and UMs), which has led to calls for studies of populations with a non-European background that may carry variants that are less frequent in Europeans. Children ≤ 18 years old with at least 8 weeks of a RIS-based regimen were recruited from three autism centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The primary outcomes measured were plasma concentrations of RIS and 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-OH-RIS) and their dose-adjusted (C/D) ratios as a function of phenotypes and activity score (AS). For accurate DNA genotyping, targeted pharmacogenomic testing with the Axiom PharmacoFocus Array was performed via examination of a broad collection of probesets targeting CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 variants. The frequency of genotypes/phenotypes and the impact of their allele translation and phenoconversion-predicted enzyme activity were examined. The final cohort included 83 individuals. The most common CYP2D6 phenotype in our population was normal metabolizers (NMs, 66.3%). Inconsistent with some previous studies, the three phenotypes of intermediate metabolizers (IMs), NMs, and UMs were significantly different in terms of RIS concentration, the RIS/9-OH-RIS ratio, the RIS C/D ratio and the 9-OH-RIS C/D ratio. According to AS analyses, there were statistically significant differences in the RIS concentration (P = 0.013), RIS/9-OH-RIS ratio (P < 0.001) and RIS C/D ratio (P = 0.030) when patients were categorized into AS ≤ 1 vs. AS > 1. None of the CYP3A4/5 star allele translated phenotypes revealed a significant influence on any of the RIS PK parameters. Notably, neither CYP2D6 nor CYP3A4/5 phenotyping demonstrated a significant impact on the total active moiety, suggesting that other gene variants could modulate RIS PK. The study confirmed the previously reported partial impact of the CYP2D6 gene on RIS PK. However, future studies using contemporary genotyping techniques targeting a wide range of variants in other candidate genes must be conducted to further examine their interactive effects on RIS PK and the clinical response.

Association Between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Oxido-Inflammatory Biomarkers With Coronary Artery Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease signifies a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Serum uric acid (SUA) levels are elevated during the initial phases of impaired glucose metabolism. This work was designed to explore the association between SUA levels, serum oxido-inflammatory biomarkers, and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in T2DM patients as the primary outcome. The secondary outcome was to assess the prognostic role of SUA in the prediction of the risk of CAD in T2DM patients. METHODS: In this case-control study, we enrolled 110 patients with T2DM who were further divided into patients with CAD and without CAD. In addition, 55 control participants were stringently matched to cases by age. RESULTS: Diabetic patients with CAD had significantly higher serum levels of the inflammatory biomarkers and the oxidative malondialdehyde but significantly lower levels of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared with the controls and diabetic patients without CAD. Significant positive correlations existed between SUA levels and serum levels of the inflammatory biomarkers and malondialdehyde, while a significant negative correlation existed between SUA levels and serum TAC. SUA demonstrated an accepted discrimination ability. SUA can differentiate between T2DM patients with CAD and patients without CAD, an area under the curve of 0.759. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum levels of SUA and oxido-inflammatory biomarkers are associated with an increased risk of CAD in T2DM. SUA levels reflect the body's inflammatory status and oxidant injury in T2DM. SUA could be utilized as a simple biomarker in the prediction of CAD risk in T2DM.

Phenotypical evaluation of lymphocytes and monocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the levels of total lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes (CD19+), T-lymphocytes (CD3+), natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-/CD56+), and monocyte subsets in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Saudi Arabia. In addition, this study aimed to evaluate whether B- and T-lymphocyte subsets are frequently altered in patients with T2DM. METHODS: A case-control study included 95 participants recruited in the study: 62 patients with T2DM and 33 healthy individuals. All the patients were admitted to the Diabetic Centre in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected between April and August 2022. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was evaluated in all patients. Flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of B-lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, NK cells, and monocyte markers. The unpaired t-test was carried out to evaluate the differences in these markers between T2DM patients and healthy individuals. RESULTS: Patients with T2DM were associated with a lower percentage of total lymphocytes, higher percentage of B-lymphocytes, naive, and memory B subsets. In addition, patients with T2DM showed lower percentage of total T-lymphocytes (CD3+) and CD4 T-cells, but higher CD8 T-cell expression. Also, the NK-cell level was reduced in patients with T2DM, and the levels of monocyte subsets were altered. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that levels of lymphocytes and monocytes are impaired in T2DM patients, and this might be associated with the higher risk of infections observed in these patients.

Evaluation of TET Family Gene Expression and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine as Potential Epigenetic Markers in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic modification in cancer. Ten-eleven translocation enzymes (TET) catalyze the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the DNA. In the current research, we aimed to evaluate the role of 5-hmC and TET enzymes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and their possible association with outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ELISA was used to measure the 5-hmC levels in genomic DNA and qRT-PCR was used to evaluate TET1, TET2, and TET3 mRNAs expression levels in NSCLC tissues and their paired normal controls. RESULTS: The levels of 5-hmC were significantly lower in NSCLC tissues than in normal tissues, with a mean ±SD of 0.28±0.37 vs. 1.84±0.58, respectively (t=22.77, p<0.0001), and this reduction was correlated with adverse clinical features. In addition, all TET genes were significantly down-regulated in NSCLC tissues in comparison to their matched normal tissues. The mean±SD level of TET1-mRNA was 38.48±16.38 in NSCLC vs. 80.65±11.25 in normal tissues (t=21.33, p<0.0001), TET2-mRNA level in NSCLC was 5.25±2.78 vs. 9.52±1.01 in normal tissues (t=14.48, p<0.0001), and TET3-mRNA level in NSCLC was 5.21±2.8 vs. 9.51±0.86 in normal tissues (t=14.75, p<0.0001). Downregulation of TET genes was correlated with poor clinical features. CONCLUSION: 5-HmC levels as well as TET1, TET2, and TET3 mRNA levels were reduced in NSCLC tissues. The reduced levels of 5-hmC and TET mRNAs were associated with adverse clinical features, suggesting that the level of 5-hmC may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker for NSCLC.

Detection of erythroid progenitors and erythrocytopathies in patients with severe COVID-19 disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on erythropoiesis and red blood cells (RBC) surface markers by evaluating erythroid progenitor cells (CD [cluster of differentiation]71+/CD235a+) and RBC surface markers (CD235a and CD36), together with various hematological parameters. METHODS: This case-control study includes 47 participants recruited in the study: 30 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 17 healthy individuals. The COVID-19 patients were recruited from the intensive care unit (ICU) of various hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected during July and September 2021. Red blood cells indices were measured using a CBC analyzer. The expression of CD235a, CD71, and CD36 was obtained using flow cytometry technique. The unpaired t-test was conducted to evaluate the differences in these markers in COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals. RESULTS: The data showed that more than half of the COVID-19 patients were anemic (64%). Expansion of erythroid progenitors (CD71+/CD235a+) was detected in the COVID-19 patients. Analysis of the expression of RBC surface markers, such as CD235a and CD36, showed that SARS-CoV-2 was associated with significantly higher expression of these markers in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 promoted the expansion of erythroid progenitors in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients. In addition, the expression of RBC surface markers was higher in COVID-19 patients. The expansion of erythroid progenitors and alteration of RBC surface markers can contribute to erythrocytopathies observed in severe COVID-19 patients and can therefore be used as prognostic factors.

AGREEing on Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder requiring multimodal intervention and an army of multidisciplinary teams for a proper rehabilitation plan. Accordingly, multiple practice guidelines have been published for different disciplines. However, systematic evidence to detect and intervene must be updated regularly. Our main objective is to compare and summarize the recommendations made in the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for ASD in children released from November 2015 to March 2022. METHODS: CPGs were subjected to a systematic review. We developed the inclusion and exclusion criteria and health-related questions, then searched and screened for CPGs utilizing bibliographic and CPG databases. Each of the CPGs used in the study were critically evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. In a realistic comparison table, we summarized the recommendations. RESULTS: Four eligible CPGs were appraised: Australian Autism CRC (ACRC); Ministry of Health New Zealand (NZ); National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (SIGN-HIS). The overall assessments of all four CPGs scored greater than 80%; these findings were consistent with the high scores in the six domains of AGREE II, including: (1) scope and purpose, (2) stakeholder involvement, (3) rigor of development, (4) clarity of presentation, (5) applicability, and (6) editorial independence domains. Domain (3) scored 84%, 93%, 86%, and 85%; domain (5) 92%, 89%, 54%, and 85%; and domain (6) 92%, 96%, 88%, and 92% for ACRC, NICE, NZ, and SIGN-HIS, respectively. Overall, there were no serious conflicts between the clinical recommendations of the four CPGs, but some were more comprehensive and elaborative than others. CONCLUSIONS: All four assessed evidence-based CPGs demonstrated high methodological quality and relevance for use in practice.

Antibacterial Effects of Commiphora gileadensis Methanolic Extract on Wound Healing.

Commiphora gileadensis (CG) is a small tree distributed throughout the Middle East. It was traditionally used in perfumes in countries in this area. In Saudi Arabia, it was used to treat wounds burns and as an antidote to scorpion stings. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cutaneous wound healing efficiency of the CG extracts using microbiological tests, rate of wound contraction and histopathological changes. CG plant were extracted using the methanol extraction technique; then, the methanolic extract was characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC−MS). Afterwards, a six-millimetre (mm) excision wound was induced in 60 male Balb/c mice. Mice were classified into two classes; each class consisted of three groups of 10 mice. In the non-infected wound class, the group I was assigned as control and received normal saline. Group II received gentamicin treatment, and group III treated with CG-methanolic extract. In the Staphylococcus aureus-infected class, group IV received normal saline, and groups V and VI were treated with gentamicin and CG-methanolic extract, respectively. The colonization of infected wounds was determined using colony-forming units (CFUs), and the percentage of wound contraction was measured in all groups. Finally, the histopathologic semi-quantitative determination of wound healing was evaluated by inflammatory cell infiltration, the presence of collagen fibres and granulation tissue, and the grade of re-epithelization. Composition analysis of the methanolic extract confirmed the presence of a high amount of ceramide (69%) and, to a lesser extent, hexosylceramide (18%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (7%) of the total amount. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the percentage of wound contraction in the CG-treated and control groups in both Staphylococcus aureus-infected and non-infected wounds (p < 0.01). The colonization of the infected wounds was lower in the group treated with CG than in the control group (p < 0.01). In both non-infected and infected wounds, the CG-treated group showed significant statistical differences in inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibres, re-epithelization and granulation tissue formation compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The CG extract possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that induce wound healing.

Protective effects of melatonin and N-acetyl cysteine against oxidative stress induced by microcystin-LR on cardiac muscle tissue.

Microcystin Leucine-Arginine (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. It is the most encountered and toxic type of cyanotoxins. Oxidative stress was shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of microcystin LR by the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation that oxidize and damage cellular macromolecules. In the present study we examined the effect of acute MC-LR dose on the cardiac muscle of BALB/c mice. Afterwards, melatonin and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) were assayed and evaluated as potential protective and antioxidant agents against damages generated by MC-LR. For this purpose, thirty mice were assigned into six groups of five mice each. The effect of MC-LR was first compared to the control group supplied with distilled water, then compared to the other groups supplied with melatonin and NAC. The experiment lasted 10 days after which animals were euthanized. Biomarkers of toxicity such as alkaline phosphatase activity, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, reduced glutathione content, serum lactate dehydrogenase and serum sorbitol dehydrogenase were assayed. Results showed that toxin treated mice have experienced significant oxidative damage in their myocardial tissue as revealed by noticeable levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and by the reduction in alkaline phosphatase activity. Whereas, melatonin and NAC treated mice manifested lesser oxidative damages. Our findings suggest a potential therapeutic use of melatonin and N-acetyl cysteine as antioxidant protective agents against oxidative damage induced by MC-LR.

Association of long non-coding RNA MIAT and MALAT1 expression profiles in peripheral blood of coronary artery disease patients with previous cardiac events.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in various cellular and pathological processes. Two lncRNAs, myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we aimed to determine the relative circulating levels of MIAT and MALAT1 in 110 stable CAD patients and 117 controls and to correlate their levels with the clinical and laboratory data. Peripheral blood expression levels were quantified by Real-Time qPCR. The median MIAT expression level in CAD patients was significantly 12-fold higher than controls (p<0.001). Otherwise, the median MALAT1 expression level was comparable in patient and control groups. Both lncRNAs showed significantly higher relative expression levels in patients with positive history of previous cardiac ischemic events, and MIAT showed significantly higher expression in diabetic CAD patients. The area under the curve of MIAT (0.888 ± 0.02 with sensitivity 95.5% and specificity 72.7%), was significantly larger than that of MALAT1 (0.601 ± 0.04 with sensitivity 50% and specificity 63.6%) for detecting the presence of significant CAD. The current findings suggest that lncRNA MIAT could have a diagnostic significance in CAD patients. MALAT1 levels, however, are not sufficiently reliable to have much clinical use in our cases.

Quality of life among parents of South African children with autism spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the quality of life (QOL) of South African parents caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared with parents of typically developing (TD) children from the same community. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done evaluating the QOL of parents of 52 children (26 parents of children with ASD versus 26 parents of TD children) using a structured measure, (World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF). RESULTS: The mean age of the children with ASD was 64.9 months (SD 14.5) versus 60.1 months (SD 13.5) for TD group. There was a male predominance among group of children with ASD (48 boys, four girls). The mean parental age of the ASD group was 32.9 years (SD 7.8) compared with 33.8 years (SD 6.8) for the TD group. As compared with parents of the TD children, parents of children with ASD had lower mean QOL scores in the four QOL domains: physical, psychological, social and environmental health (p<0.0001). the domain where the discrepancy between groups was greatest was the physical domain Where the mean score was 52.1 (SD 18.7) in the ASD group and 92 (SD 10.4) in the TD group. Lower income, severity level of ASD and lack of access to school placement of children with ASD were found significantly associated with parents' QOL domains. CONCLUSION: QOL of parents of children with ASD is significant lower than that of the parents of their TD peers across all domains and is an important component in management of the family which needs to be explored and addressed.

Osteopontin as a marker for response to pegylated interferon Alpha-2b treatment in Chronic HCV Saudi patients.

BACKGROUND: Many recent studies support the idea that osteopontin (OPN) can be used to predict the success of pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) alpha-2b/ribavirin therapy in chronic HCV patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the role of plasma OPN and its gene polymorphism at nt - 443 in response to PEG IFN in Saudi patients with chronic HCV. METHODS: Blood was collected from 87 patients with chronic hepatitis C before treatment, then patients received PEG IFN α2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. Another 25 healthy subjects, matched for age and sex to patients, were enrolled as controls. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in OPN at nt - 443 and its blood level were analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of patients who reached sustained virological response (SVR) was increased in patients with T/T at nt - 443 than in those with C/C or C/T. Also the frequency of T allele was increased in responders than in non-responders. However, this increase was not statistically significant. The blood level of OPN was significantly increased in non-responders (Mean±SD=37.21±3.9) in comparison to responders (Mean±SD=33.22±4.1). CONCLUSION: Osteopontin blood level can be considered as a reliable predictor to PEG IFN α2b plus ribavirin therapy in chronic HCV Saudi Patients.

Gene Polymorphism of Interleukin-4, Interleukin-4 Receptor and STAT6 in Children with Atopic Dermatitis in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

AIM OF STUDY: This work was performed to evaluate the level of IL-4, and to clarify the role of IL-4 gene polymorphism at position cytosine -590-to-thyamine (C-590T), IL-4Rα gene polymorphism at position adenine +4679-to-guanine (A+4679G) [isoleucine-50-valine (I50V)] and STAT6 gene polymorphism at position guanine 2964-to-adenine (G2964A) in Saudi children with non-atopic dermatitis (non-AD) and atopic dermatitis (AD) to identify their role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study included 150 children: 50 healthy children as controls, 50 with non-AD, and 50 with AD. They were subjected to full clinical examination, complete blood picture, skin prick test, and determination of serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) and total immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels. Detection of interleukin-4 gene (C-590T), interleukin-4 receptor alpha gene (A+4679G) (I50V), and STAT6 gene (G2964A) polymorphisms were performed by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4Rα (A+4679G) (I50V) polymorphism in the AD group (but not non-AD group). Moreover, there was a significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the STAT6 (G2946A) polymorphism in the non-AD (P < 0.05) and AD (P < 0.01) groups. On the other hand, there was no significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the (C-590T) polymorphism in the non-AD group and AD group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) higher total IgE level in patients compared to the controls. Moreover, the mean values of total IgE were significantly different among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively, in all the studied groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference of serum IL-4 levels among all the studied patients, or among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively. CONCLUSION: IL-4Rα gene (I50V) and STAT6 gene (G2964) polymorphisms may play a role in development of eczema; however, the IL-4 gene polymorphism (C-590T) had no relationship with susceptibility to the disease among Saudi children.