Genetic Screening for Filaggrin Mutation in Atopic Dermatitis and Ichthyosis Vulgaris in the African American Population

The investigators' primary objective is to identify common and rare mutations in the
filaggrin gene in African American patients with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and
ichthyosis vulgaris. Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a common, chronic, relapsing and
remitting problem in many children and affects 10-20% of the pediatric population. Itch is a
predominant feature of this disease and is quite disruptive to daily activities of life. In
addition to itch, it is characterized by markedly dry skin, small red bumps that may have
fluid. Ichthyosis vulgaris is characterized by extremely dry, scaly skin with a fine white
scale and increased amounts of lines noted on the palms. Filaggrin is a protein that is
essential for the skin to function properly as a barrier and found to be mutated in some
European patients with ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. This association has not
been looked at in the African American population. Genomic DNA (gDNA) will be purified from
buccal swabs using commercially available kits and analyzed.