Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disease associated with prolonged unhealed wounds and infections due to repetitive scratching, which commonly begins in childhood. In patients with AD, the serum IgE levels are positively correlated with symptoms of the disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Tai-Chi exercise on the serum IgE levels in school-aged children with AD. Method: Eight elementary school children with AD aged 6 to 12 years were included in this study. The participants executed on-hour Tai-Chi exercise session for five times per week for eight weeks without medication during the study. Blood samples were taken before and after exercise intervention for each participant. The serum levels of IgE and other Th cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4) that may modulate IgE synthesis were measured by an allergic Immunoanalyser (Pharmacia Unicap 100). Data were analyzed by paired T-test using SPSS17.0 software, the significance level was set at α=.05. Results: The results showed a significant difference (p＜ 0.05) in the serum levels of IgE between pre-exercise (mean ±SD, 589.1±370.8KU/L) and post-exercise (528.1±383.9KU/L). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a trend that Tai-Chi exercise might be associated with lower serum IgE levels, suggesting a beneficial effect of the exercise on school-aged patients with AD.
