Drivers of Atopic Dermatitis

Drivers of Atopic Dermatitis

AD is driven by both inflammatory and neural mechanisms.1

Current understanding of AD pathophysiology reveals that it is a neuroimmune-mediated disease, driven by itch, inflammation, and skin barrier dysfunction.1-3

Circular graphic with diagonal lines, representing itch and scratch
Itch
Circular graphic with concentric circles, representing inflammation
Inflammation
Circular graphic with curved line bisected with arrow, representing skin barrier dysfunction
Skin barrier dysfunction
timeline

Drivers of Atopic Dermatitis

Itch, inflammation, and skin barrier disruption are 3 pillars of AD. The neuroimmune communication between sensory neurons, keratinocytes, and inflammatory mediators contribute to AD pathophysiology.1-5

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Cytokines in AD & PN
A woman with simulated atopic dermatitis gazes downward and scratches a diffuse lesion on her left arm due to the severe itch she suffers

Burden of AD
A man with simulated atopic dermatitis scratches at diffuse lesions on his neck while gazing downward due to severe itch she suffers

Diagnosing AD
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Resources

Download useful resources about atopic dermatitis, and prurigo nodularis.

  1. ​Steinhoff M, Ahmad F, Pandey A, et al. Neuroimmune communication regulating pruritus in atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;149(6):1875-1898. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.010
  2. Dubin C, Del Duca E, Guttman-Yassky E. The IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31 pathways in atopic dermatitis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2021;17(8):835-852.doi:10.1080/1744666X.2021.194096
  3. Yosipovitch G, Berger T, Fassett MS. Neuroimmune interactions in chronic itch of atopic dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(2):239-250. doi:10.1111/jdv.15973
  4. Kim J, Kim BE, Leung DYM. Pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis: clinical implications. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2019;40(2):84-92. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4202
  5. Renert-Yuval Y, Guttman-Yassky E. New treatments for atopic dermatitis targeting beyond IL-4/IL-13 cytokines. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2019;124(1):28-35. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2019.10.005

References

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