ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the response to low-dose [500 ng/1.73 m2] adrenocorticoid hormone [ACTH] test in atopic dermatitis [AD] patients in comparison with the normal controls. Twenty-five prepubertal children were compared with 8 healthy control subjects [mean age 7.56 +/- 2.5 years, respectively; male to female ratio 1.1:1 and 1:1, respectively]. All patients were subjected to thorough medical history and clinical examination as well as random blood glucose, total and differential blood count and plasma cortisol [mug/dl] was measured by radioimmunoassay. The basal [0], peak [30], 60-minute and increment [peak minus basal] in plasma cortisol concentrations in children with mild AD used mild potent corticosteroid were not significantly different from the controls indicating a normal adrenal sensitivity to low-dose adrenocorticoid hormone [ACTH]. In moderate AD patients, used moderately potent corticosteroid, the peak and increment in the plasma cortisol levels were lower than the controls but within the normal values. Severe AD patients, used potent corticosteroid, showed lower peak and subnormal increment; while the basal and 60-minute plasma cortisol levels were within the normal level. There was a significant positive correlation between the peak, the basal, increment and 60-minute corticosteroid levels; whereas, they were inversely correlated with the eosinophilic count in all patients. The increment did not correlate with the basal and stimulated levels of plasma cortisol in the group of severe AD