Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Atopic dermatitis has been thought to be associated with a disturbance in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism, but randomized trials investigating the clinical efficacy of oral supplementation with gammalinolenic acid have revealed conflicting results. AIM OF THE STUDY: To re-investigate the proposed linkage between PUFA dysregulation and atopic dermatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RESULTS: GLA levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in eczema patients with elevated IgE (A, 0.19 +/- 0.06%) and in atopic controls (C, 0.23 +/- 0.06%) than in eczema patients with low IgE (B, 0.42 +/- 0.19%) and non-atopic controls (D, 0.43 +/- 0.16%). There were no significant differences between groups for LIN, DGLA and AA, except for lower LIN levels in atopic controls. Correlation of individual LA and GLA values showed significantly steeper regression lines in low- IgE responders (B and D, k(x) = 0.058) than in high- IgE responders (A and C, k(x) = 0.012; p < 0.02), suggesting impaired delta-6-desaturase function in the latter. For the study population as a whole, there was a clear negative correlation between total levels of IgE and GLA (r(s) = -0.64) and a moderate negative correlation between total IgE and AA (r(s) = -0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Dysregulation of n-6 PUFA metabolism is neither consistently found in nor specifically associated with atopic dermatitis but rather appears to be associated with IgE production and atopy in general. The finding of decreased GLA levels in eczema patients with elevated total IgE and in children with allergic rhinitis and asthma but not in eczema patients with normal total IgE questions the proposed pathophysiologic role of fatty acid dysregulation in atopic dermatitis.
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Authors | Margarete Focke, Gabriele Sesztak-Greinecker, Werner Brannath, Manfred Götz, Reinhart Jarisch, Wolfgang Hemmer |
Journal | Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
(Wien Klin Wochenschr)
Vol. 117
Issue 13-14
Pg. 485-91
(Jul 2005)
ISSN: 0043-5325 [Print] Austria |
PMID | 16091876
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
- Immunoglobulin E
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Topics |
- Asthma
(blood, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Child
- Dermatitis, Atopic
(blood, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
(blood)
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin E
(blood)
- Male
- Prevalence
- Prognosis
- Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
(blood, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Risk Assessment
(methods)
- Risk Factors
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