Clinical correlations of recent developments in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a steadily increasing prevalence affecting 10-20 % of infants and 1-3% of adults globally. It is often the first clinical manifestation of atopic disease preceding asthma and allergic rhinitis. Probably half of the children with atopic dermatitis develop some other form of atopic disease later in life. The pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of factors including genetic predisposition due to altered immune or skin barrier function, interactions with the environment such as food and allergen exposures, and infectious triggers of inflammation. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the contribution of different factors in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis and how insights provide new therapeutic potential for its treatment. ©2008 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.