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Summary Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects 10–20% of the population. Linkage of atopy, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and total serum IgE levels to several different chromosomal regions have been described extensively, but little is known about the genetic control of atopic dermatitis. We tested for the association and linkage between atopic dermatitis and five chromosomal regions: 5q31–33, 6p21.3, 12q15–24.1, 13q12–31, and 14q11.2/14q32.1–32.3. Marker analysis was performed in two Caucasian populations: (i) 192 unrelated German children with atopic dermatitis and 59 non-atopic children from a German birth cohort study (MAS'90), parental DNA was tested in 77 of 192 children with atopic dermatitis; (ii) 40 Swedish families with at least one family member with atopic dermatitis selected from the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children. Evidence for linkage and allelic association for atopic dermatitis was observed for markers on chromosome 13q12–14 and 5q31–33. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Prevalence studies of atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever and allergic asthma have mostly been performed in children. Studies in the adult population are still rare.We estimated the lifetime prevalence of atopic diseases in an elderly population in Saarland, Germany, and determined the association between the duration of school education (as a proxy measure of socio-economic status) and atopic diseases. Family history and size of residence with respect to atopic diseases have also been examined. Methods: This study was conducted between June 2000 and December 2002 in the State of Saarland, Germany. 9961 participants aged 50 to 75 years were recruited by their general practitioner. All filled out a standardized questionnaire and reported whether a physician ever had diagnosed an atopic disease (hay fever, atopic dermatitis or asthma). Results: Overall, 9949 subjects (mean age 62 yrs., 45 % male) were included in this analysis. The lifetime prevalence for asthma, atopic dermatitis and hay fever was 5.5%, 4.3% and 8.3%, respectively. Duration of school education (≤9 years, 10–11 years, >11 years) was strongly associated with atopic dermatitis and hay fever, but only tentatively with asthma. With increasing duration of school education the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (3.7%, 5.7%, 6.8%; P trend <.0001) and hay fever (7.2%, 11.2%, 12.8%; P trend <.0001) increased continuously. Conclusions: The lifetime prevalence for atopic dermatitis is considerably lower in the elderly compared to recent studies on prevalence among children and adolescents. Adults with a longer duration of school education appeared to have a higher risk for atopic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]