Double-blind crossover trial with oral sodium cromoglycate in children with atopic dermatitis due to food allergy.

Thirty-one children with atopic dermatitis, aged 6 months to 10 years, were selected for this trial. All had historical, clinical, and laboratory evidences that allergy to food was the cause of exacerbations of eczema. Either oral sodium cromoglycate (SCG) or a matching placebo was administered orally for 8 weeks, followed by the alternative treatment for a further 8-week period. During the first 4 weeks of each treatment period, patients remained on an exclusion diet. During the second 4 weeks, the offending food(s) was reintroduced into the diet. The severity of the eczema and the changes in severity as a result of diet or challenge were measured both by the clinician (using body diagrams) and by parents (using a daily diary card). Analysis of the clinician's scoring and the patient's diary card scores demonstrated a statistically significant difference in favour of SCG, especially in the group where the placebo preceded the active treatment. Sodium cromoglycate does seem to reduce the exacerbations of atopic dermatitis caused by food allergens.