The autoimmune aspects of atopic dermatitis (AD) were examined in 92 children (aged 2-16 years; mean 8.6 years) with mild-severe AD. AD was mild, moderate or severe in 30.4, 46.7 and 22.9% of children, respectively. Serum levels of autoantibodies (AAs) to neutrophil-myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA), pyruvate-dehydrogenase mitochondrial complex (ANA-M2), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and enzymocomplex P450 (LKM-1) were measured in all patients. AAs to MPO-ANCA and AMA-M2 were found in 54.2% and 39.6% of children, respectively. These were correlated with a high level of total IgE and were more prevalent in boys and children with severe AD. No AAs to ANA or LKM-1 were found. AMA-M2 was associated with food allergy and MPO-ANCA was ...