Correlation between Interleukin 31 and clinical manifestations in children with atopic dermatitis: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Itching is one of the major and mandatory signs of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is strongly involved in the genesis of pruritus. In our study, 68patients aged 0–18 years with proven AD were followed clinically. The role of IL-31 in pruritusas clinical manifestation of AD is known but its etiopathogenetic mechanism is not wellknown.Methods: Serum was collected from 31 patients with moderate and severe forms of AD todetermine IL-31 and its correlation with activity and severity of the disease. We also studied30 healthy patients to compare the results of determinations. The IL-31 value was determinedusing the sandwich enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay (two antibodies assay). TheIL-31 values were expressed as picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) and compared with activityand severity of the disease.Results: The IL-31 value was much higher in patients with AD compared to the control group.The mean value of findings was 1600 pg/mL compared to the control group with an averageof 220 pg/mL. The IL-31 values were positively correlated with the severity and activity of thedisease.Conclusions: The results of our pediatric study established the involvement of IL-31 in thepathophysiology of AD. IL-31 could be a marker of AD track