Efficacy of an amino acid-based formula in severe atopic dermatitis in babies of the first year of life: Results of an open-label multicenter prospective study
Recently, there is an increasing prevalence of severe atopic dermatitis accompanied by the insufficient efficiency of diet therapy with extensively hydrolyzed formulas. Dietary therapy with amino acid-based formulas is one of the ways of enhancing the efficiency of treatment. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of an amino acid-based formula (Nutrilon Amino acids) in the combination therapy of severe atopic dermatitis. An open-label multicenter prospective study included 99 sick patients (a SCORAD score of >40) aged 3 to 11 months. The estimated parameters were a change in the SCORAD index during 4-week intake of the amino acid-based formula; the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms and their change; evaluation of the efficiency of diet therapy by parents and a physician according to the visual analogue scale; a change in weight and height; and sensitization spectrum. Conclusion. Severe atopic dermatitis is characterized by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (gastrointestinal symptoms in 63,4% of cases) and multivalent sensitization. The amino acid-based formula is effective in arresting both isolated cutaneous (in 98% of the children) and concomitant cutaneous and gastrointestinal (in 87%) manifestations of food allergy. Dietary therapy with Nutrilon Amino acids is highly effective, as assessed by both the parents and the physicians; its duration must be at least 4 weeks.