The study is currently open for recruitment.
Arm 1: Allergy in early life
Recruitment target: 30 neonatal, 30 paediatric patients.
Inclusion criteria
- Male and females.
- Aged 0-18 years.
- Atopic allergic volunteers. Individuals who have experienced an allergic response to one or more allergens.
- Non-allergic individuals. Individuals who have no history of atopy/allergic reactions.
- Patients with atopic dermatitis as diagnosed by a consultant allergologist/dermatologist accordingly to the UK Working Party Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis.
- Undergoing an unrelated surgical procedure
Exclusion criteria
- Subjects on systemic immunosuppressants.
- People with significant long-term illness in which the illness or treatment would be likely to adversely affect the results of the immune assays.
- Individuals whose parents unable to give fully informed consent for reasons of language or general comprehension.
- Individuals with inflammatory skin conditions other than atopic dermatitis.
Arm 2: Tolerance in atopic dermatitis
Recruitment target: 30 adult patients with atopic dermatitis
Inclusion criteria
- Male and females.
- Aged over 18 years.
- Patients with atopic dermatitis as diagnosed by a consultant allergologist/dermatologist accordingly to the UK Working Party Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis.
Exclusion criteria
- Subjects on systemic immunosuppressants.
- People with significant long-term illness in which the illness or treatment would be likely to adversely affect the results of the immune assays.
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Individuals unable to give fully informed consent for reasons of language or general comprehension.
For more details, please contact:
Dr. Marta E Polak
e-mail: m.e.polak@soton.ac.uk
Arm 3:Inducing immunosuppression
Recruitment target: 50 patients
Inclusion criteria
- Male and females.
- Aged over 18 years.
- Atopic allergic volunteers. Individuals who have experienced an allergic response to one or more allergens.
- Non-allergic individuals. Individuals who have no history of atopy/allergic reactions.
- Undergoing an unrelated surgical procedure
- Individuals with inflammatory skin conditions exposed to natural or artificial ultraviolet light (e.g. as part of treatment).
Exclusion criteria
- Subjects on systemic immunosuppressants.
- People with significant long-term illness in which the illness or treatment would be likely to adversely affect the results of the immune assays.
- Pregnant or lactating women
- Individuals unable to give fully informed consent for reasons of language or general comprehension.