Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Clusterin is a sensitive cellular biosensor of oxidative stress and has been studied as a marker to assess inflammatory diseases. The clusterin levels in AD have not been evaluated thus far.
Objective: We evaluated serum clusterin levels in children with AD and assessed the relationship between serum clusterin levels and the severity of AD.
Method: The study enrolled a total 140 children, of whom 100 had AD (n = 100) and 40 were healthy (n = 40). The severity of AD was scored by using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). Total serum immunoglobulin E and specific immunoglobulin E levels against egg whites, cow's milk, peanuts, soybeans, wheat, and Dermatophagoides farinae were measured. Clusterin levels in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The mean (interquartile range) age of the children was 5.1 years (1.3-8.4 years), and 92 (69.3%) of the children were boys. The mean (standard deviation) SCORAD index was 50.4 ± 17. The mean (standard deviation) clusterin level of children with AD was higher than that in the healthy control group children (148.13 ± 4.3 pg/mL versus 144.85 ± 5.1 pg/mL; p = 0.001). Serum clusterin levels were correlated with the SCORAD index (r = 0.327, p = 0.002).
Conclusions: The serum clusterin level was higher in children with AD than in the healthy control group and increased with the severity of AD. Serum clusterin may be a candidate molecule that reflects AD and its severity.