PR97675

MILAN, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Researchers have identified an immune biomarker in newborns that can predict

the subsequent onset and severity of paediatric atopic eczema, a new study

presented at the 31st European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)

Congress has shown.

The Barrier dysfunction in Atopic newBorns (BABY) study analysed a cohort of

450 babies (300 term and 150 preterm newborns) to examine whether skin barrier

and immune biomarkers could predict the onset and severity of eczema during the

first 2 years of life.

Both term and preterm babies with elevated levels of Thymus and

Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC) at 2 months were found to be more than

twice as likely to develop eczema by the age of 2 years. This increased risk

was still prevalent after adjusting for parental atopy (where the immune system

is more sensitive to allergic diseases) and filaggrin gene mutations, which is

a major predisposing factor for eczema. The study found a positive association

between the level of TARC and the severity of eczema.

Researchers used tape strips to painlessly and non-invasively collect skin

cells from the back of babies' hands at 0-3 days and 2 months in term children

and from the skin between the shoulder blades at 2 months of age in preterm

children. The strips were analysed for immune biomarkers and babies were

followed up for the next 2 years.

First author and co-researcher Dr Anne-Sofie Halling, from the Bispebjerg

Hospital at the University of Copenhagen, commented "To our knowledge, this is

the first to show that non-invasively collected skin biomarkers can be used to

predict the subsequent onset and severity of paediatric atopic eczema."

"The study will help us investigate and create future preventative strategies

for children with elevated TARC levels to help stop the development of this

common and debilitating disease, which is an exciting prospect."

Eczema affects up to 20% of the paediatric population and diagnoses continue to

rise.

"The test is painless and easy to perform and can help us to identify skin

changes that occur prior to the development of eczema, particularly for the

most severe forms of the disease. This provides a window of opportunity to

develop targeted trials and prevent cases of eczema from occurring", concluded

Dr Anne-Sofie Halling.

SOURCE: EADV