Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of lymphatic immune therapy on skin barrier function and immune function in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods One hundred children with atopic dermatitis in our hospital between January 2014 and January 2015 were divided into a subcutaneous injection group (50 cases) and a lymph injection group (50 cases). All of them were injected with preparation of house dust mite allergen. The subcutaneous injection group was given subcutaneous injection in the middle elbow of the upper arm, and the lymph injection group was given injection into the lymph nodes of the groin. The therapeutic effect, skin barrier function, immune function and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment for 16 and 20 w, the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) scores in the lymph injection group were significantly lower than those in the subcutaneous injection (P < 0.05), but there was no more difference between the 2 groups at the 68th w after treatment (P > 0.05). The medication scores of the subcutaneous injection and lymphatic injection group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). In both groups, serum house dust mite specific IgE (sIgE) after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment (P < 0.05), sIgG4 was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05); however, ther was no significant difference in sIgE or sIgG4 between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). In the two groups, the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of skin lesions and non-lesion areas was significantly decreased after treatment, and the decrease in the lymphatic injection group was significantly greater than that in the subcutaneous injection group (P < 0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the subcutaneous injection group was significantly lower, and the number of CD4+ T cells and NK cells was smaller, while the number of CD8+ T cells and B cells were significantly larger than those of the lymphatic injection group (P < 0.05). In addition, the incidence of adverse reactions in the lymphatic injection group was significantly lower than that in the subcutaneous injection group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The lymphatic immunotherapy can shorten the course of conventional treatment for atopic dermatitis, decrease the injection dosage and times, enhance the skin barrier function, improve immunity, and reduce the systemic adverse reaction rate. It is markedly effective and highly safe, and worth promoting.