[Prevalence of atopic dermatitis and serum IgE of Yusho patients].

Dioxins may have impact on the human immunological system, which would increase the risk to develop allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. In order to determine the lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Yusho patients, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 2007. Six hundred and thirty-eight out of 731 certified yusho patients answered the questionnaires, and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Yusho patients was 8.8%. We also measured serum IgE in 83 certified and 98 non-certified Yusho patients who attended an annual medical check-up in 2007. Mean serum levels of IgE in certified Yusho patients were 386.2 +/- 1128.0 IU/ml, whereas those in non-certified Yusho patients were 272.1 +/- 603.6 IU/ml. There was no significant difference in serum levels of IgE between certified and non-certified Yusho patients. In addition, no significant correlation was observed between serum levels of IgE and blood levels of dioxins in certified Yusho patients.