Study population and characteristics
We enrolled 20 adults with moderate-to-severe AD (15 females and 5
males, mean age 31 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (11 females and 9
males, mean age 40.3 years) under institutional review board-approved
protocols (Table 1 ). Clinical severity scores were measured
using a 5-grade AD Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score (mean
score 2.6, Table 1 ). Exclusion criteria included
immunodeficiency, use of biologics within the previous 12 weeks, use of
systemic steroids, use of immunosuppressants or phototherapy within the
previous 4 weeks, and use of any topical medication within the previous
2 weeks.