Etiology of Eczema Herpeticum (EH)

This study uses whole genome sequencing (WGS) technology to identify genetic variants that confer risk of recurrent atopic dermatitis with a history of eczema herpeticum (ADEH+), with ≥3 eczema herpeticum (EH) episodes. A small subgroup of individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) suffer from life-threatening disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) skin infections, termed eczema herpeticum (ADEH+). The manifestation of ADEH+ however is not simply a consequence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections, since the majority of the US population is latently infected with HSV-1 from an early age. Most importantly, there is a bimodality in the recurrence of eczema herpeticum (EH) episodes; most individuals have only a single episode but a subgroup of ADEH+ individuals has 3 or more episodes. This study aims to conduct an extreme trait investigation of ADEH+ with recurrent EH, ≥3 episodes, compared to AD without a history of eczema herpeticum (ADEH-), using whole genome sequencing.