Polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene of patients with atopic dermatitis-association with personality traits related to high level of anxiety.

Context: The symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) are often aggravated by anxiety, and the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) has been shown to be of importance in this context. Three polymorphisms affecting transcription of this gene are known: a repetitive element, in the promoter region (5HTTLPR), a variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) within intron 2 referred to as STin2, and a single-nucleotide (A/G) polymorphism (SNP) located within the 5-HTTLPR.

Objective: To examine for possible relationships between these polymorphisms and aggravation of AD by stress.