A probable involvement of rice allergy in severe type of atopic dermatitis in Japan.

1006 patients with typical and atypical lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) were analysed statistically. The clinical severity was closely correlated to serum IgE values and RAST (radio-allergosorbent test) positivity. The frequency of RAST-positive antigens was significantly correlated with serum IgE values (gamma = 0.712; p < 0.01). The analysis of multiple correlation between the clinical severity and each RAST score for mite, egg white and rice antigens suggested a strong contribution of rice allergy to the development of severe AD. 25 patients with severe AD and positive rice-RAST were treated by rice exclusion diet. The results were as follows: 9 cases remarkably responsive, 10 cases moderately responsive and 6 cases unresponsive. The rice-RAST titre decreased most remarkably in the 1st group. The wheat-RAST titre also decreased in the 1st, in spite of taking wheat foods every day, but increased in the 3rd. A probable role of rice allergy in severe AD in Japan is discussed.