Skin salt levels and their link to eczema in adults 50 and older
Sodium in the Skin and Atopic Dermatitis
This project will test whether diet and skin barrier problems affect salt levels in the skin and whether those salt levels relate to eczema in people aged 50 and older.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | dupilumab, chemotherapy, methotrexate |
| Locations | 2 sites (San Francisco, California and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06998446 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study will enroll 90 adults age 50+ (30 healthy, 30 with mild atopic dermatitis, 30 with severe atopic dermatitis) and follow them for 3–24 months with 2–3 study visits. Diet will be estimated with food frequency questionnaires and urine biomarkers, and skin sodium concentration will be measured non-invasively using sodium MRI alongside clinical and patient-reported measures of eczema severity. Participants will provide biosamples and complete questionnaires at planned visits, and those with atopic dermatitis will submit monthly severity scores and return for extra visits if their disease changes. The primary analyses will use regression models to test links between dietary sodium, skin barrier function, skin sodium concentration, and immune or clinical profiles over time.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 50 or older who can safely undergo non-contrast MRI, are willing to provide biosamples and questionnaire data, and meet the inclusion/exclusion medication and medical criteria are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with autoimmune disease, recent cardiac events, significant liver or kidney impairment, contraindications to MRI, or who are taking excluded medications are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to dietary or skin-barrier strategies to reduce skin salt buildup and help improve eczema management in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has used sodium MRI to measure skin salt and linked tissue sodium to inflammation in other conditions, but applying these measures specifically to atopic dermatitis is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 50 years and above * Willing to undergo non-contrast MRI (e.g., no contraindications to MRI, such as cardiac pacemakers, non-compatible intracranial vascular clips or pregnancy). Exclusion Criteria: * History of autoimmune disease. * Cardiac events in the last six months. * Impaired function of the liver or kidneys (glomerular filtration rate \<60ml/min). * Current use of medications that influence sodium excretion (e.g. thiazide diuretics, SGLT2 inhibitors and spironolactone), and/or chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment. * Currently receiving phototherapy or taking systemic medications for atopic dermatitis including cyclosporine, methotrexate, or other broad immunosuppressive medications. (Patients on dupilumab will not be excluded if they have been on dupilumab for at least two months and still meet the criteria for severe disease.)
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California and 1 other locations
- San Francisco VA Medical Center — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
- UCSF Mt Zion Campus — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Katrina Abuabara, M.D. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Jie Zhu, MD
- Email: Jie.Zhu2@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 415-502-0433
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.