Infant palmar hyperlinearity and type 2 inflammatory markers predict atopic dermatitis at 1 year of age

Identification of clinical signs and biomarkers predicting the onset of paediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) is important for disease prevention strategies. Hyperlinear palms, a minor Hanifin & Rajka criterion, are characterized by an increased number and depth of skin creases and have been associated with both filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations and AD.

To investigate whether distinct palmar phenotypes in infancy are associated with AD in early childhood.

In total, 300 term and 150 preterm newborns were followed clinically for possible AD onset until 2 years. The palm of the hand was photographed at 2 months of age for later blinded clinical assessment. FLG mutations were analysed in buccal cells. Skin tape strips were collected at 2 months of age and analysed for immune and skin barrier biomarkers. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the risk of AD development.

Hyperlinear palms at 2 months of age were diagnosed in 14.3% (35/245) of the children. The presence of hyperlinear palms was associated with increased occurrence of AD within 1 year (HR 2.82; 95% CI: [1.59-5.00]; p = 0.0004) and 2 years of age (HR 2.40; 95% CI: [1.39-4.13]; p = 0.002), which remained after adjustment for FLG mutation status within 1 year (aHR: 2.13; 95% CI: [1.08-4.20]; p = 0.03) and within 2 years of age (aHR: 1.79; 95% CI: [0.94-3.38]; p = 0.08). Having both hyperlinear palms and elevated TARC/CCL17 at 2 months of age was further associated with increased AD occurrence within 2 years of age among children born to term (HR 5.66; 95% CI: [1.74-18.41]; p = 0.004).

Hyperlinear palms at 2 months of age are associated with paediatric AD within the first year of life. Our study indicates that the presence of type 2 inflammation at 2 months of age further increases the occurrence of AD.