Different effect of oral cyclosporine therapy and oral antihistamine therapy on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine level in atopic dermatitis in older children and adulthood.

BACKGROUND

Many patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are treated with oral cyclosporine or antihistamine therapy in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of oral cyclosporine and antihistamine therapy on clinical and laboratory findings in patients with AD.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients with AD (male-female = 11 : 14, age 16-42 years old, mean 26.2 years old) were treated with oral cyclosporine therapy. Twenty-three patients with AD (male-female = 10 : 13, age 15-32 years old, mean 24.2 years old) were treated with oral antihistamine therapy. Laboratory findings including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) were statistically studied.

RESULTS

Serum TARC level after oral cyclosporine therapy (1013 ± 883 pg/ml) was significantly decreased compared to before therapy (38 194 ± 4678 pg/ml; P < 0.02). Basophil counts in peripheral blood after the therapy (49.7 ± 26.4 × 10(-3) cells/μl) were more significantly increased than before therapy (41.1 ± 16.7 × 10(-3) cells/μl; P < 0.05). Serum high-sensitivity CRP level after antihistamine therapy (0.09 ± 0.08 mg/ml) was significantly decreased compared to before therapy (0.13 ± 0.12 mg/ml; P < 0.05). Basophil counts in peripheral blood after the therapy (33.4 ± 16.2 × 10(-3) cells/μl) were more significantly decreased than before therapy (41.5 ± 23.3 × 10(-3) cells/μl; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Different effects of oral cyclosporine therapy and oral antihistamine therapy to serum high-sensitivity CRP level, TARC level, and peripheral blood basophils in adult patients with AD were shown. A combination of these two therapies may be more effective for the treatment of AD in adults.