Catecholamines levels and parotid secretion in children with chronic atopic dermatitis

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-1982

Journal

Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Volume

78

Issue

6

DOI

10.1111/1523-1747.ep12510303

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo state of both branches of the autonomic nervous system in children with chronic atopic dermatitis. In 15 patients, age 4 to 11, the following parameters were analyzed: (1) basal plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine; (2) poststimulation (standing and i.v. furosemide administration); (3) basal urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and vanillyl mandelic acid; (4) 30 min postfurosemide administration; (5) parotid secretory response to intraoral 0.1 M citric acid: flow rate, saliva pH, and concentrations of bicarbonate, chlorides, inorganic phosphates, total protein, and amylase activity. No differences in plasma and urinary basal levels of the catecholamines were observed. In response to standing, plasma norepinephrine from atopic children showed a greater increase than that seen in normal healthy children. From the salivary factors studied, no differences were found in parotid flow-rate, bicarbonates, chlorides, and inorganic phosphates. Protein concentration as well as amylase activity were significantly decreased in children with atopic dermatitis. These findings suggest that in atopic dermatitis, the β-sympathetic mediated responses are impaired; on the other hand parasympathetic mediated responses remain preserved.

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