Serum levels of anti-Staphylococcus aureus-specific IgE in patients with atopic dermatitis

We investigated the role of Staphylococcus aureus-specific IgE in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The titer of serum S. aureus-specific IgE was measured using the RAST method in 67 patients with AD and correlated with serum LDH, eosinophil count and total IgE. The titer of S. aureus-specific IgE was elevated in 41 patients but was not detected in 26 patients. The mean serum level of total IgE was higher in the positive group than in the negative group, but the eosinophil count and LDH levels were not different between the two groups. S. aureus was detected and cultured from the skin of 33/41 (80%) patients in the positive group, but only from the skin of 5/26 (19%) patients of the negative group. Our results suggest that S. aureus-specific antibody is present in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD.