Ann Dermatol.  2010 May;22(2):180-185. 10.5021/ad.2010.22.2.180.

The Influence of Pregnancy and Menstruation on the Deterioration of Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kwanglee@yuhs.ac
  • 2Department of Dermatology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Female patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often experience cutaneous deterioration associated with their pregnancy or menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to determine the prevalence of symptom aggravation as related to pregnancy and the menstrual cycle in female patients with AD.
METHODS
One hundred female patients with AD were included in the study and interviews were performed. The total IgE level and the Eczema Area and Severity Index score of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety seven patients replied the questionnaire, and among them, 23 patients had completed at least 1 pregnancy. Among the 23 women who experienced pregnancy, 14 (61%) had noticed deterioration of their clinical symptoms during pregnancy. Of the 97 females, 31 (32%) patients had noticed deterioration of their AD as related to their menstrual cycle. For the patients who were sub-grouped as the intrinsic type of AD, the prevalence of symptom aggravation as related to pregnancy was significantly higher as compared to that of the extrinsic type of AD patients (p=0.048).
CONCLUSION
Of the 97 patients, 45 (46%) females answered that they have experienced deterioration of AD during pregnancy or in relation to their menstrual cycle, and this suggests the relation of a hormonal influence on the clinical manifestations of AD.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Hormone; Intrinsic; Menstruation; Pregnancy

MeSH Terms

Dermatitis, Atopic
Eczema
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Menstrual Cycle
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Immunoglobulin E

Figure

  • Fig. 1 The association between pregnancy and aggravation of AD symptoms. The changes of AD symptoms associated with pregnancy in the AD patients who have experienced at least one pregnancy (n=23) (A). The degree (B) and period (C) of deterioration among the patients who experienced deterioration of AD during pregnancy (n=14).

  • Fig. 2 The influence of pregnancy on the aggravation of AD symptoms between the IAD (n=6) and EAD groups (n=17).

  • Fig. 3 The association between menstruation and the aggravation of AD symptoms. The changes of AD symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle in AD patients (n=97) (A). The degree (B) and period (C) of deterioration among the patients who experienced deterioration of AD in relation to their menstrual cycle (n=31).


Cited by  1 articles

Influence of Weight Loss on Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in a 20-Year-Old Female with Atopic Dermatitis
Jee Hee Son, Bo Young Chung, Min Je Jung, Yong Won Choi, Hye One Kim, Chun Wook Park
Ann Dermatol. 2018;30(5):626-628.    doi: 10.5021/ad.2018.30.5.626.


Reference

1. Montnemery P, Nihlen U, Goran Lofdahl C, Nyberg P, Svensson A. Prevalence of self-reported eczema in relation to living environment, socio-economic status and respiratory symptoms assessed in a questionnaire study. BMC Dermatol. 2003. 3:4.
Article
2. Folster-Holst R, Pape M, Buss YL, Christophers E, Weichenthal M. Low prevalence of the intrinsic form of atopic dermatitis among adult patients. Allergy. 2006. 61:629–632.
Article
3. Ingordo V, D'Andria G, D'Andria C, Tortora A. Results of atopy patch tests with house dust mites in adults with 'intrinsic' and 'extrinsic' atopic dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002. 16:450–454.
Article
4. Wuthrich B, Schmid-Grendelmeier P. The atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome. Epidemiology, natural course, and immunology of the IgE-associated ("extrinsic") and the nonallergic ("intrinsic") AEDS. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2003. 13:1–5.
5. Kornizky Y, Topilsky M, Fireman E, Kivity S. Specific IgE antibodies to aeroallergens and food among Israelis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1999. 83:149–152.
Article
6. Chen W, Mempel M, Schober W, Behrendt H, Ring J. Gender difference, sex hormones, and immediate type hypersensitivity reactions. Allergy. 2008. 63:1418–1427.
Article
7. Kemmett D, Tidman MJ. The influence of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy on atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol. 1991. 125:59–61.
Article
8. Weatherhead S, Robson SC, Reynolds NJ. Eczema in pregnancy. BMJ. 2007. 335:152–154.
Article
9. Kiriyama K, Sugiura H, Uehara M. Premenstrual deterioration of skin symptoms in female patients with atopic dermatitis. Dermatology. 2003. 206:110–112.
Article
10. Hanifin JM, Rajka G. Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venerol. 1980. 92:44–47.
11. Ott H, Stanzel S, Ocklenburg C, Merk HF, Baron JM, Lehmann S. Total serum IgE as a parameter to differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic atopic dermatitis in children. Acta Derm Venereol. 2009. 89:257–261.
Article
12. Brunsting LA. Atopic dermatitis (disseminated neurodermatitis) of young adults. Analysis of precipitating factors in one hundred and one cases and report of ten cases with associated juvenile cataract. Arch Derm Syphilol. 1936. 34:935–957.
Article
13. Rajka G. Essential aspects of atopic dermatitis. 1989. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
14. Hellerstrom S, Lidman H. Studies of Besnier's prurigo (atopic dermatitis). Acta Derm Venereol. 1956. 36:11–22.
15. Rajka G. Prurigo Besnier (atopic dermatitis) with special reference to the role of allergic factors. III. The role of some factors in the course of the prurigo Besnier. Acta Derm Venereol. 1961. 41:363–395.
16. Garell DC. Atopic dermatitis in females during adolescence. Am J Dis Child. 1964. 107:350–355.
Article
17. Roth HL, Kierland RR. The natural history of atopic dermatitis. A 20-year follow-up study. Arch Dermatol. 1964. 89:209–214.
18. Wuthrich B. Zur Immunopathologie der Neurodermatitis constitutionalis. 1975. Bern: Huber.
19. Saito S, Sakai M, Sasaki Y, Tanebe K, Tsuda H, Michimata T. Quantitative analysis of peripheral blood Th0, Th1, Th2 and the Th1:Th2 cell ratio during normal human pregnancy and preeclampsia. Clin Exp Immunol. 1999. 117:550–555.
Article
20. Ikeno N, Takahashi K. Studies on changes in serum estrone, estradiol, estriol, DHA-S, and cortisol and urinary estriol excretion. Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi. 1985. 37:99–106.
21. Daynes RA, Dudley DJ, Araneo BA. Regulation of murine lymphokine production in vivo. II. Dehydroepiandrosterone is a natural enhancer of interleukin 2 synthesis by helper T cells. Eur J Immunol. 1990. 20:793–802.
Article
22. Suzuki T, Suzuki N, Daynes RA, Engleman EG. Dehydroepiandrosterone enhances IL2 production and cytotoxic effector function of human T cells. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1991. 61:202–211.
Article
23. Agner T, Damm P, Skouby SO. Menstrual cycle and skin reactivity. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1991. 24:566–570.
Article
24. Alexander S. Patch testing and menstruation. Lancet. 1988. 2:751.
Article
Full Text Links
  • AD
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr