[The effect of suplatast tosilate on the patients with atopic dermatitis--relationship between clinical symptoms and immunological parameters].

The Th2 cytokine inhibitor, suplatast tosilate (300 mg/day) was administered to 45 cases of patients with atopic dermatitis for 8 weeks. The clinical scores, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum LDH levels, total IgE levels, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels, and serum IL-5 levels before and after the treatment were observed and comparatively evaluated. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1) Temporary improvements were found in the severity score, itching score, and sleeplessness score. All evaluated scores decreased significantly for all observation periods at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after administration of suplatast tosilate compared with those before the administration. 2) In severe group, there was a significant improvement of severity score of lower limb. In moderate group there were significant improvements of severity score of head, face, neck and of upper limb. There were significant improvements of severity score of trunk and upper limbs in mild group. 3) The peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum LDH levels significantly diminished compared with those before administration, but no significant difference was found in total IgE levels and serum ECP levels. 4) The serum IL-5 levels decreased after administration, however, there was no statistical significance. 5) The positive correlations between delta-severity score and delta-peripheral eosinophil count, delta-serum LDH levels, delta-serum ECP levels were found. 6) The positive correlations between delta-peripheral eosinophil count and delta-serum LDH levels, delta-serum ECP levels were observed. 7) There was no sign of adverse effects of the drug. From the above mentioned results, we confirmed the high efficacy of suplatast tosilate in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.