A Serum Level of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen as a Real-Time Biomarker of Atopic Dermatitis.

Background

Although serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) are elevated in atopic dermatitis (AD), their clinical utility has not been fully elucidated.

Methods

Thirty-three cases of AD who admitted to our hospital were analyzed.

Results

Baseline characteristics on admission were as follows: median age 19 months [interquartile range (IQR), 12-52 months], median objective severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (O-SCORAD) 19.2 (IQR, 4.2-36.0), and median serum SCCA levels 3.2 ng/mL (IQR, 2.1-6.8 ng/mL). O-SCORAD significantly correlated with serum SCCA levels (rs = 0.865, P < 0.001). In 9 cases whose information before and after treatment was available (median interval, 3 days; IQR 2-5 days), median serum SCCA levels significantly decreased from 8.0 to 2.0 ng/mL (P = 0.008) after the treatment.

Conclusions

Serum levels of total SCCA rapidly declined in response to the treatment and could be used as a real-time biomarker in childhood AD.