Eczema
Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The onset of eczema is associated with the body’s hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers, and similar to allergic asthma, the pathology involves the T helper type 2 (Th2) cell pathway, a common pathway in the body’s immune response against exposure to foreign antigens (see Figure 1). The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent or recurring skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness.
There are an estimated 300 million worldwide and 15 million in the U.S. suffering from some form of eczema, with prevalence on the rise. The majority of eczema cases are classified as mild to moderate; however, patients living with severe eczema have up to 50% or more of their body covered with rash, leading to social self-isolation and in-hospital treatment to obtain disease remission. Severe eczema is common in children, but onset is also common and persistent into adulthood. Up to 60% of these severe atopic eczema patients also present with asthma, underscoring the common allergic mechanism of the diseases.
Current treatments for eczema focus on suppressing the underlying inflammation, and include oral and topical steroids, systemic immunomodulatory agents (SIM) like cyclosporine and newer topical immunomodulators in the tacrin class (TIM). These agents are generally effective in controlling mild to moderate eczema, and can provide acute symptom relief for patients suffering from severe eczema; however, there are few safe and effective treatment options for severe eczema.
Figure 1
Eczema results from a dysregulated, hyperresponsive immune system. Some immune cells in allergic eczema patients respond agressively to foreign allergens with the release of interleukins 4 and 13, two key mediators that initiate a cycle of inflammation below the surface of the skin. Aeroderm™ is an IL4Ra receptor antagonist that blocks the inflammatory effects of interleukins-4 and -13 (IL-4 and IL-13), thereby promoting a more balanced immune response.
If you want to learn more about atopic eczema, please consult your physician or the following resources:
The Eczema Resource: http://www.eczemaresource.com/eczema/eczema.asp
The American Academy of Dermatology: http://www.aad.org/default.htm