Polimorfism of the TAP gene in atopy

Posters - Atopic

10 weeks and thereafter, indicating no attenuation of efficacy. From the above results, it is proven that there is no particular problem with safety in the case of long-term application of FK ointment and that excellent efficacy is maintained for a long time without attenuation. Thus, it is anticipated that FK ointment may become a new medication for the treatment of AD. ElP53

Cyclosporine is able to reduce levels in atopic dermatitis

sCD30 serum

A. Frezzolini, V. Bottari’, S. Cadoni, M. Ruffelli, 0. De Pita. Departtnent IDI, IRCCS,

of ltntnunodermatology, Rome; ‘San Catnillo

Cltairtnatl DC P Puddu Hospital, Rotne, Italy

It has been recently reported that CD30, a 120~kD membrane-bound glycoprotein. is an activation marker of T cell clones showing a Th2 cytokine profile. The soluble form of the molecule (sCD30) is released in the bloodsteam after cellular activation and it is considered a marker of disease activity in several immune disorders in which Th2 lymphocytes are primarily involved, including Atopic Dermatitis (AD). Clinical trials have documented Cyclosporin-A (Cy) to be effective in the treatment of severe AD; this seems to be ascribed to the ability of Cy to inhibit Th2 cytokine production (IL-3, IL-4 and, to a lesser extent, IL-5). In this light we evaluated five patients with severe AD associated with asthma, rhinitis, extense cutaneous ivolvement and serologically characterized by high levels of IgE, sCD30 and IL-4. Patients were treated with Cy for 12 weeks at the dosage of 3.5 mg/Kg/day. Ten healthy donors and five patients with severe AD treated with topical therapy alone were used as control groups. In AD patients treated with Cy we observed, in parallel with the improvement of clinical conditions, a significant reduction of both sCD30 (36 f 7 vs 14 f 3 U/ml) and IL-4 (16.7 f 4 vs 7.73 f 1.62 pg/ml) till normal values. In the group of AD patients treated with topical therapy no reduction of sCD30 (28 f 6 vs 22 f 4 U/ml) and IL-4 (14 f 5.7 vs 12.4 f 5.3 pg/mI) was observed in respect to the beginning of the treatment. These data suggest that Cy treatment in AD is able to reduce sCD30 serum levels, due to an inhibitory effect on Th2 cells expansion and activation. of the TAP gene in atopy I P54 Polimorfism A. Wilkowska, B. Nedoszytko, M. Zablotna, J. Roszkiewicz. Department Poland

of Dermatology

Medical

University,

Gdatfsk,

Transporter antigen peptide 1 (TAP-l) and TAP-2 gene products form transporter molecules involved in antigen processing. Recently polymorphism of these genes described and 4 allele of gene TAP-I and 8 alleles of gene TAP-2 have been distinguished. The aim of this study was to define. the relationship between the occurrence of atopic dermatitis symptoms and the inheritance of polymorphism of TAP genes. We investigated 108 members of 26 families with atopic dermatitis children. The patients were divided in two groups, one with clinical atopy symptoms, and the other of controls. In each person TAP-l gene polymorphism was investigated using the allelo-specific polymerase chain reaction methods (ARMS-

s199

demratitis

PCR). The two dimorphic sites of TAP-l gene were analysed. in codons 333 and 637. The most frequent allele in the examined population was allele A (85.2% of patients). Alleles B, C, D are less frequent and present in 9.7%. 3.2% and 1.8% patients respectively. In comparison with the controls, the patients with atopy have been found to be more frequently of genotype AB (x*test, p < 0.05). No difference was found in TAP-I allele and genotype frequency in patients with the elevated and non-elevated total serum level IgE. I P55

Cortisol levels in the patients with atopic dermatitis during systemic betamethasone therapy

D. Nikitin, E. Sokolovski. Department Venereal Diseases, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia

of Dermatology 1.R Pavlov Medical

and

Thirty seven patients, both men and women, with severe forms of atopic dermatitis have been treated with systemic betamethasone during two weeks up to the total dosage 15 mg. Basal cortisol levels as well as dexamethazone test were detected before and after the treatment. All of the individuals under study showed clinical improvement as a result of the treatment. Dexamethazone test revealed chronic stress, before the therapy, which was absent after the latter. As for the cords01 levels, there was no evidence of adrenal suppression by the end of the study. We can conclude, therefore, that short-term betamethasone systemic therapy may be the method of choice for severe atopic dermatitis. I P56

Therapeutical in childhood:

strategies in atopic dermatitis Our clinical experience

N. Kiriakova, Z. Demerdjieva, R. Dentcheva. Department of Dermatology and Venereology Medical University of Sofa, Bulgaria

The causal therapy for atopic dermatitis is not available due to the unknown ethiopathogenetic factors. The aim of the proposed strategy is to treat each of the five main aspects of atopic dermatitis - dry skin, skin infection, allergies, itch and eczema. In the acute phase we usually use momethasone furoate 0.1% cream once daily for 14 days and later adjuvant complex therapy with recomendation for avoiding provocative factors, which are personalized. We evaluated the clinicai effect of atopic dermatitis patients aged 3 months to 10 years for two-year period dermatological investigations include clinic, microbiologic and psychological methods. The results showed decrease of severity of atopic dermatitis symptoms in all patient groups. I P57

Topical application atopic dermatitis

of cyclosporin

in acute

M. Jiinger, A.S. Btichtemann, B. Vollert. Dep. of Dermatology, Tuebingen,

Germany

In atopic dermatitis local antiinflammatory treatment is based on the use of topical corticosteroids. Because of this treat: ment’s longterm adverse events alternative immunesuppressive