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. 2011 Mar;25(3):334-9.
doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03794.x.

Serum measurement of interleukin-31 (IL-31) in paediatric atopic dermatitis: elevated levels correlate with severity scoring

M H M Ezzat  1 , Z E Hasan, K Y A Shaheen
Affiliations

Serum measurement of interleukin-31 (IL-31) in paediatric atopic dermatitis: elevated levels correlate with severity scoring

M H M Ezzat et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a novel T-helper-lymphocyte-derived cytokine that plays an important role in human T-cell-mediated skin diseases. When overexpressed in transgenic mice, IL-31 induces severe pruritus resembling eczema in humans. Serum IL-31 was previously found overexpressed in adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). The novelty of this study is the use of a pediatric patient group as well as comparison of IL-31 levels during flare and quiescence.

Objective: This case-controlled longitudinal study was designed to determine the levels of IL-31 in serum of AD children and its associations in relation to disease activity and severity.

Methods: Sera were obtained from 50 AD children and 40 healthy volunteers. IL-31 levels were measured using a sandwich ELISA. All AD patients were followed up and re-sampled for serum IL-31 after clinical remission. Serum IL-31 levels were correlated with AD disease activity and severity variables.

Results: Serum IL-31 levels were significantly higher whether during AD flare [median, 1600; mean (SD)=1457.8±770.4 pg/mL] or quiescence (1040; 958.7±419.5 pg/mL), than those in controls (220; 197.3±91.9 pg/mL). Serum IL-31 levels were significantly higher in the high disease severity group compared with the moderate or low severity group. Moreover, serum IL-31 levels correlated positively with the calculated severity scores (LSS, SSS and SCORAD index).

Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of IL-31 in AD pathophysiology. Serum IL-31 level is an objective reliable marker of AD severity in children. It may represent a novel target for antipruritic drug development.

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