Association of staphylococcal superantigen-specific immunoglobulin e with mild and moderate atopic dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the frequency of allergic sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens in young children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). STUDY DESIGN AD severity was assessed with objective Scoring AD. Serum IgE to staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) A, SEB, SEC, SED, and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 were measured with ImmunoCAP. Comparisons between mild AD and moderate AD were performed by using logistic regressions. RESULTS The prevalence of allergic sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens in patients with mild and moderate AD was 38% and 63%, respectively. Allergic sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens, particularly SEA and SED, was found to be associated with moderate AD, compared with mild AD. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that allergic sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens is common even in young children with mild to moderate AD, and such sensitization may contribute to the disease severity of these patients.