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Two common mutations of the filaggrin gene (FLG) lead to premature “stop” synthesis of filaggrin protein. People with these and other “null” mutations often have early-onset, severe, persistent atopic dermatitis linked to abnormal barrier formation. Investigators recently examined the role of filaggrin mutations in atopic dermatitis, asthma, and rhinitis; the penetrance (probability that a child with a mutation will develop 1 or more of these disorders); and the population-attributable risk (the proportion of the population with these diseases attributable to a filaggrin mutation). The cohort comprised 3099 children participating in a cross-sectional assessment of asthma and allergy prevalence among all fourth-graders in Munich and Dresden,…