Abstract
In the course of atopic dermatitis (AD), the overactivity of the immune system, associated with predominant Th2 lymphocyte responses, is observed, which leads to an increased inflammatory reaction. Cases of a severe course of atopic dermatitis lead to the search for new therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment for severe cases of AD in children. A total of 15 children with severe AD underwent therapy. The influence of HBOT on the clinical course of AD and immunomodulatory effect of the therapy was analyzed by the SCORAD and objective SCORAD (oSCORAD) scales and by determining the serum concentration of immunological parameters (blood: nTreg lymphocytes, CD4+CD25highCD127-FOXP3+, NKT lymphocytes CD3+, CD16/56+, and serum: total IgE, cytokines IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, before and after the 30-day treatment cycle). The study showed a significant effect of the therapy on the improvement of the skin condition. In all children, a reduction in the extent and intensity of skin lesions, reduction of redness, swelling, oozing/crusting, scratch marks and skin lichenification after HBOT was observed. Patients also reported a reduction in the intensity of pruritus and an improvement in sleep quality after therapy. In all children, a statistically significant decrease in the serum level of IgE was observed. However, no statistically significant changes in the blood levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10, as well as the percentage of CD4+CD25highCD127−FOXP3+ Treg and NKT lymphocytes, were found. In conclusion, the use of hyperbaric therapy has a positive impact on treatment results in children with a severe course of atopic dermatitis.
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with periods of exacerbation and remission associated with skin barrier dysfunction
The clinical problem that atopic dermatitis poses for modern medicine prompts us to search for new methods of treatment, which would alleviate the course of the disease or avoid its exacerbations
In the study, we investigated the changes in the Th2 cytokine profile–IL-4 and IL-6 in order to assess the influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the severity of inflammation in patients with AD
Summary
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with periods of exacerbation and remission associated with skin barrier dysfunction. A typical feature of this chronic dermatosis is the characteristic morphology and localization of skin lesions, persistent and recurrent pruritus, as well as skin lichenification [1,2,3]. In the course of the disease, quality of life is significantly reduced. Atopic dermatitis generally develops in early childhood, before the age of one. In 45% of AD cases, the first symptoms occur before six months of age [3,4,5]. The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and not fully understood
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