Allergic conjunctivitis: a risk factor for recurrent herpes simplex virus infections in patients with atopic dermatitis

• Published in: EJD. European journal of dermatology Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 607 - 614
• Main Authors: Salonen, Jussi, Remitz, Anita, Salonen, Janne, Lauerma, Antti, Salava, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris John Libbey Eurotext 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Clinical Report; Dermatology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Allergic conjunctivitis; atopic dermatitis; herpes simplex infections
• ISSN: 1167-1122; 1952-4013
• DOI: 10.1684/ejd.2022.4333

Background Patients with atopic dermatitis have an increased risk of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. Objectives We carried out a retrospective, cross-sectional study to investigate the association of disease severity, concomitant atopic diseases and filaggrin mutations with the risk of cutaneous HSV infections in 463 patients with atopic dermatitis. Materials & Methods The correlation between predisposing factors and HSV infections was analysed using chi-square and Mann Whitney U-tests, and the relationship was further studied with binomial logistic regression to ascertain odds ratios. Results Allergic conjunctivitis (aOR: 1.770; CI: 1.008–3.109; p = 0.047) and patient age (aOR: 1.022; CI: 1.007–1.036; p = 0.004) showed statistically significant associations with recurrent HSV infections and eczema herpeticum. HSV infections were not linked to severity of atopic dermatitis ( p = 0.435) or filaggrin mutation status ( p = 0.886). Conclusion The results highlight the importance for attentiveness of HSV infections in atopic dermatitis patients with concomitant allergic conjunctivitis.