Objective: In recent years, there have been sporadic reports of severe atopic dermatitis (AD) with hypoproteinemia and growth impairment. The present study was conduced in order to ascertain the characteristics of patients with severe infant AD with hypoproteinemia at the initial visit and their treatment courses.
Subjects: Of AD patients younger than 1 year of age who visited the department over a 27-month period from March 2002, subjects were those with severe AD accompanied by hypoproteinemia. The clinical characteristics of these patients at the initial visit and the changes in symptoms and laboratory findings were statistically analyzed.
Results: Of the total of 119 AD patients younger than 1 year of age visited to the department during the above-mentioned period, 15 patients had severe AD with hypoproteinemia. The height and body weight of approximately half of the patients were less than 3rd percentile, and 10% and more of the patients had severe hyponatremia or hyperpotassemia. The platelet count for 60% of the patients exceeded 800 x 10(3)/microl. After visiting the department, therapy involving the use of skin care products and topical steroids and the removal of exacerbation factors quickly improved dermal symptoms and laboratory findings.
Conclusion: Severe AD is a disease that should be cautiously treated because of the risk of hypoproteinemia, growth impairment, electrolyte abnormalities, and thrombocytosis; however, it should be noted that appropriate treatments can improve this condition.