Original articles
ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS

Summary

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a multifactorial etiology involving genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. In recent years, increasing evidence has pointed to an association between AD and autoimmune diseases, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD).

Discussion: The imbalance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses, shared cytokine pathways, and the presence of IgE autoantibodies provide a mechanistic explanation for the overlap between AD and ATD. Clinical studies and meta-analyses have reported a higher pre-valence of thyroid autoimmunity among AD patients, especially in children and young adults. This interplay suggests that early atopy may act as a risk factor for later autoimmune diseases, and that AD should be regarded not only as an allergic disorder but also as part of a broader immunological context.

Conclusions: A significant correlation exists between AD and ATD, supporting the role of thyroid screening in selected subgroups of patients with atopic dermatitis. Further large-scale studies are warranted to clarify the causal relationship and to develop personalized mana-gement strategies.