Raynaud-like phenomenon in infants with atopic dermatitis: correlation with serum endothelin-1 levels

• Published in: Arerugi Vol. 52; no. 12; p. 1114
• Main Authors: Kojima, Takatsugu, Taniuchi, Shoichiro, Aoki, Takao, Hatano, Yasuko, Yamamoto, Akemi, Sasai, Misa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; Dermatitis, Atopic - blood; Dermatitis, Atopic - complications; Endothelin-1 - blood; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Nitrates - blood; Raynaud Disease - etiology
• ISSN: 0021-4884
• DOI: 10.15036/arerugi.52.1114

Infants with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) sometimes have cold and pale fingers and toes as observed in patients with Raynaud-like phenomenon (RP). We tried to clarify the physiological mechanism of secondary RP in patients with AD. The correlation between serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) or nitrate (NO3) levels and the severity of AD was examined in 37 patients. As a result, RP was observed in 5 boys younger than 6 months of age and with severe AD. These 5 infants had high serum ET-1 levels. However, serum NO3 levels were only mildly elevated. These results suggest that secondary RP in AD may occur with elevated ET-1 caused by stressed and/or damaged endothelium in infants with severe AD.