OBJECTIVE: To validate the accuracy of newly proposed diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis (AD). DESIGN: Double-blind, cross-sectional study comparing the achievement of new criteria with the diagnosis of a dermatologist. SETTING: A private, general dermatology, outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: A sample of 416 consecutive patients attending the clinic within 2 months (146 males and 270 females), consisting of 60 patients with AD and 356 control patients with other skin diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of proposed criteria in the diagnosis of AD. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of proposed diagnostic criteria for AD were 10.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.1%-21.2%), 98.3% (95% CI, 96.2%-99.3%), 50.0% (95% CI, 22.3%-77.7%), and 86.6% (95% CI, 82.8%-89.7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These diagnostic criteria for AD are highly specific and are suitable for clinical trials. However, they may not achieve enough sensitivity to be useful for large, population-based epidemiological studies or for routine clinical practice, at least in Iran.
OBJECTIVE: To validate the accuracy of newly proposed diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis (AD). DESIGN: Double-blind, cross-sectional study comparing the achievement of new criteria with the diagnosis of a dermatologist. SETTING: A private, general dermatology, outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: A sample of 416 consecutive patients attending the clinic within 2 months (146 males and 270 females), consisting of 60 patients with AD and 356 control patients with other skin diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of proposed criteria in the diagnosis of AD. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of proposed diagnostic criteria for AD were 10.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.1%-21.2%), 98.3% (95% CI, 96.2%-99.3%), 50.0% (95% CI, 22.3%-77.7%), and 86.6% (95% CI, 82.8%-89.7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These diagnostic criteria for AD are highly specific and are suitable for clinical trials. However, they may not achieve enough sensitivity to be useful for large, population-based epidemiological studies or for routine clinical practice, at least in Iran.
Authors: Agostino Strina; Mauricio L Barreto; Sergio Cunha; Maria de Fátima S P de Oliveira; Shirlei C Moreira; Hywel C Williams; Laura C Rodrigues Journal: BMC Dermatol Date: 2010-11-09
Authors: Lawrence F Eichenfield; Wynnis L Tom; Sarah L Chamlin; Steven R Feldman; Jon M Hanifin; Eric L Simpson; Timothy G Berger; James N Bergman; David E Cohen; Kevin D Cooper; Kelly M Cordoro; Dawn M Davis; Alfons Krol; David J Margolis; Amy S Paller; Kathryn Schwarzenberger; Robert A Silverman; Hywel C Williams; Craig A Elmets; Julie Block; Christopher G Harrod; Wendy Smith Begolka; Robert Sidbury Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2013-11-27 Impact factor: 11.527