“Hyper” Infections Can Mean It's More Than AD

Clinical markers that distinguish atopic dermatitis from hyper-IgE syndrome include severe infections.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often have Staphylococcus aureus superinfections of the skin and high serum IgE levels. Patients with hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) caused by mutations of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene also often have dermatitis, S. aureus infections, and high levels of serum IgE. How can clinicians be sure that their AD patients do not have HIES? Early diagnosis would allow us to initiate strategies and therapies to prevent complications or at least treat them early.

Researchers studied 78 patients referred for possible HIES to a specialty expert clinic. Of these patients, 48 from 45 unrelated families had HIES confirmed by the presence of heterozygous STAT3 mutations. The most common cl…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)