Individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) are at increased risk for multiple autoimmune conditions, especially those with more severe AD, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Simon de Lusignan, MD, and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis comparing baseline prevalence and incidence after diagnosis of autoimmune conditions in 173,709 children and adults with new-onset AD and 694,836 matched controls. Pre-existing autoimmune conditions were more prevalent in people with AD compared with controls (5.8% vs 4.3%). There was a link between AD and new-onset autoimmune disease, excluding individuals with pre-existing autoimmune disease. Risk for developing an autoimmune disease was highest for more severe AD than for moderate or mild AD. The autoimmune conditions of significant risk included Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, Crohn’s disease, pernicious anemia, hypothyroidism, and ulcerative colitis.
