Section Reviews: Pulmonary-Allergy, Dermatological, Gastrointestinal & Arthnlis: New therapeutic approaches to atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which affects some 10 - 15% of the population during childhood. The prevalence of the disease is increasing and there are few, if any, current therapies which are directed at the underlying cause of the disease. A better understanding of the mechanisms of AD is starting to offer potential therapeutic approaches to this disease. The understanding of the role of cytokines in AD, in particular interleukin-4, interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, has indicated several potential approaches, including inhibition of cytokine processing (matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors), inhibition of cytokine release (phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors) and modulation of cytokine levels, as well as newer approaches to immunomodulation.