Natural killer cell function in atopic dermatitis.

The natural killer cell activity was studied in 41 children with mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and in 37 controls. The natural killer cell function of lymphocytes was reduced in atopic children (mean +/- SD 21.92 +/- 6.18% vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80%; p less than 0.0001). This decrease was not related to the IgE serum level. A negative correlation was found between natural killer cell activity and the clinical severity of AD (r = 0.73; p less than 0.001). Natural killer cell function was re-evaluated after 9 months in 27 children during a quiescent phase of AD; it was still low, but to a lesser degree (27.66 +/- 5.42%, in the quiescent phase, vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80, controls; p less than 0.0001). The reduced natural killer cell activity seems related to the disease activity.