Knut Øymar, Lage Aksnes
DOI: 10.1080/00015550410035515

Tostudy the role of mast cell activation in children with atopiceczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), we measured levels of urinary9α,11β-prostaglandin F2 (U-9α,11β-PGF2) by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 88 children (mean age 44 months, range 3-135) with mild (n =32), moderate (n =34) or severe (n =22)AEDS, as well as in 72 non-atopic healthy controls. Fifty-eight of the children with AEDS were sensitized to common allergens (atopics) and 30 were not (non-atopics). Levels of U-9α,11β-PGF2 were higher in children with severe AEDS (median 324µg/mmol creatinine, quartiles 220-593) than in controls (198, 102-389, p<0.001), whereas levels of U-9α,11β-PGF2 in moderate and mild disease were similar to controls. U-9α,11β-PGF2levels were similar in atopic and non-atopic children, but in severe AEDS those with atopy had higher levels than those without atopy (p<0.05).The results suggest a role for mast cell activation in children withsevere AEDS. Exacerbation of AEDS caused by allergen triggering mayinvolve mast cell activation, and U-9α,11β-PGF2 may serve as a marker of this process.