Urinary 9alpha,11beta-prostaglandin F(2) in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome: an indicator of mast cell activation?

Abstract

To study the role of mast cell activation in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS), we measured levels of urinary 9alpha,11beta-prostaglandin F(2) (U-9alpha,11beta-PGF(2)) by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 88 children (mean age 44 months, range 3-135) with mild (n=32), moderate (n=34) or severe (n=22) AEDS, as well as in 72 non-atopic healthy controls. Fifty-eight of the children with AEDS were sensitized to common allergens (atopics) and 30 were not (non-atopics). Levels of U-9alpha,11beta-PGF(2) were higher in children with severe AEDS (median 324 microg/mmol creatinine, quartiles 220-593) than in controls (198, 102-389, p<0.001), whereas levels of U-9alpha,11beta-PGF(2) in moderate and mild disease were similar to controls. U-9alpha,11beta-PGF(2) levels were similar in atopic and non-atopic children, but in severe AEDS those with atopy had higher levels than those without atopy (p<0.05). The results suggest a role for mast cell activation in children with severe AEDS. Exacerbation of AEDS caused by allergen triggering may involve mast cell activation, and U-9alpha,11beta-PGF(2) may serve as a marker of this process.