Our research
In the group we focus on epidemiological and genetic research on atopic dermatitis (AD) to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis, comorbidity, and treatment response for patients with severe disease.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder. The pathogenesis is a complex interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition. The improved understanding of the immunopathogenesis of AD has opened to a new era in the development of more target-specific systemic treatments. There are several new systemic treatments for AD patients. These treatment options generate a relatively high drug cost with unclear long-term effect, drug survival, and side effects in real patients outside of clinical trials.
The aims
The main aim is to increase the understanding of the development of AD by genetic and functional studies of AD with a focus on skin barrier defects, to investigate the effects and factors of importance for treatments response of systemic treatments for AD in real-world settings, and to understand the importance of certain comorbidities among AD patients.
The research impact
Itch, sleep-disturbance, and social embarrassment due to visible lesions have a major impact on health-related quality of life among those with AD as well as their relatives. AD is associated with depression and suicidal ideation. Treatment options for patients with severe disease have been insufficient. However, several new and emerging systemic treatments for moderate-to-severe AD have been evaluated in clinical trials on selected patients but data on real-life patients is scarce. Therefore, it is of greatest importance to better understand the effect, reasons for discontinuation, and side-effects of these new treatments among patients in clinical settings. Hopefully, the results of the research will help us to choose the most suitable treatment for AD patients with severe disease and thus reduce AD symptoms, reduce depressive symptoms and symptoms of other comorbidities, avoid side-effects, and improve quality of life.