Atopic dermatitis (AD) is presumed to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In this study, 54 patients with AD were examined for disease association by the use of 12 microsatellite markers. Several significant associations were recognized in the alleles on chromosome 5, 7 and 11. AD genes were mapped near the FC epsilon RI beta gene (around D11S1314 locus) on chromosome 11, the IL4 gene cluster on chromosome 5 and the TCR gamma gene on chromosome 7. This distribution in close proximity to candidate loci for AD is very similar to that of atopic genes, therefore implying that an atopic trait is genetically responsible for the development of AD.