Recent insights into comorbidities in atopic dermatitis

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2023 Apr;19(4):393-404. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2023.2181790. Epub 2023 Feb 26.

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between atopic dermatitis and atopic diseases such as food allergies, asthma, and allergic rhinitis in terms of co-occurrence, underlying mechanisms, and therapy is well documented. There is increasing evidence that atopic dermatitis is associated with non-atopic comorbidities such as cardiac, autoimmune, and neuropsychological comorbidities, as well as cutaneous and extracutaneous infections, establishing atopic dermatitis as a systemic disease.

Areas covered: The authors reviewed evidence on atopic and non-atopic comorbidities of atopic dermatitis. A literature search was conducted in PubMed for peer-reviewed articles published until October 2022.

Expert opinion: Atopic and non-atopic diseases coexist with atopic dermatitis more often than would be expected by chance. The effect of biologics and small molecules on atopic and non-atopic comorbidities may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between atopic dermatitis and its comorbidities. Their relationship needs to be explored further to dismantle the underlying mechanism and move toward an atopic dermatitis endotype-based therapeutic approach.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; autoimmune; cardio-metabolic; comorbidities; cutaneous; eczema; extracutaneous; infections; neuropsychological; non-atopic.

MeSH terms

  • Asthma*
  • Comorbidity
  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / epidemiology
  • Food Hypersensitivity*
  • Humans
  • Rhinitis, Allergic* / epidemiology