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The most common dermatoses during early infancy are: seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and diaper dermatitis. It is important to differentiate these conditions for prognostic and therapeutic reasons.
The cytokinetics of epidermal and dermal cells was examined in 16 patients with subacute or chronic allergic contact dermatitis and 11 with atopic dermatitis. In allergic contact dermatitis a H3-thymidine-labelling index (H3-1) of 4.55 +/- 2.4% was found in the epidermis and of 0.7 +/- 0.44% in the dermal infiltrate. In comparsion, in atopic dermatitis the values were 5.5 +/- 2.31% in the epidermis and 0.93 +/- 0.72% in the dermis. The DNA-synthesis-time (ts) was lengthened slightly with 11.4 +/- 2.4 h in allergic contact dermatitis and 11.75 +/- 3.68 h in atopic dermatitis. In comparsion with normal skin, the cell-cycle-time (tc) was slightly shortened in allergic contact dermatitis (244 +/- 110 h) and in atopic dermatitis (233 +/- 83 h). There was no significant difference between both types of dermatitis regarding cytokinetics.
In vitro Fc epsilon RII expression was examined in patients with atopic dermatitis, those with non-atopic eczematous dermatitis and normal individuals following stimulation of peripheral blood cells with recombinant IL-4 (rIL-4), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), or PHA plus rIL-2. At various days cells were stained with MoAbs to human lymphocyte Fc epsilon RII and to lymphoid cell-surface antigens and analysed by flow cytometry. rIL-4, but not rIL-2, specifically induced Fc epsilon RII on T cells as well as B cells in atopic dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis and normal individual groups. Both atopics and non-atopics generated comparable proportions of Fc epsilon RII+ T cells (T epsilon cells), whereas the frequency of B cells bearing Fc epsilon RII(B epsilon cells) was significantly higher in patients with extensive atopic dermatitis than in those with mild atopic dermatitis and other subjects. Comparable levels of T epsilon cells were detected in both atopic and non-atopic donors following stimulation of peripheral blood cells with PHA or pre-activation of the cells with PHA plus subsequent incubation with rIL-2. Whereas both CD8+ and CD4+ subsets were present in T epsilon cell populations induced specifically by rIL-4, PHA and PHA plus rIL-2, patients with atopic dermatitis had a greater tendency for Fc epsilon RII expression on CD8+ T cells compared with patients with eczematous dermatitis and normal individuals. Recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma), but not rIFN-alpha or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), suppressed the generation of T epsilon cells by rIL-4 in atopics and non-atopics to the same degree. These results suggest the aberrant control of Fc epsilon RII expression on T cells, especially those bearing CD8, in atopic dermatitis.
Since oral cyclosporin A (CsA) has demonstrated its effectiveness in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, efforts have been made to develop a topical CsA formulation, thus avoiding systemic adverse events. A limited number of publications are available on the use of topical CsA in allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Moreover the response rate of humans to topical CsA is about 50% or less. We now report our results with three new topical CsA formulations on allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. No significant improvement was found in 16 atopic dermatitis patients and 7 allergic contact dermatitis (nickel sulphate) patients.
Skin biopsies for immunofluorescent studies were taken from patients with contact dermatitis (positive patch tests), atopic dermatitis and allergic vasculitis for comparison with normal-appearing skin from the same patients, and from healthy controls. A variety of deposits of immunoglobulins, complement components and fibrinogen were demonstrated in 6 out of 20 patients with contact dermatitis, 7 out of 10 with atopic dermatitis, 8 out of 10 with allergic vasculitis, and in 4 out of 20 control individuals. No diagnostic pattern of deposits was found. Elevated serum IgE and eosinophilic counts were found in patients with atopic dermatitis, and high serum IgA and fibrinogen levels were found in the allergic vasculitis group.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was made of 2% ketoconazole cream and shampoo in 20 patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face. Sixteen also had seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp and five had seborrhoeic dermatitis of the chest or back. Responses were measured by clinicians and patients independently using a grading system and linear analogue scales, respectively. Face and scalp lesions, assessed by both patient and clinician, showed a significant improvement or complete clearance in the group treated with ketoconazole. The patients who had seborrhoeic dermatitis of the chest or back and were treated with ketoconazole also improved. There was no improvement with placebo. This study provides further evidence for the aetiological role of pityrosporon yeasts in seborrhoeic dermatitis and of the efficacy of topical ketoconazole in its treatment.
We report two atopic boys with allergic contact dermatitis to nickel. Both children had early onset of atopic dermatitis and subsequently presented with infraumbilical dermatitis corresponding to the site of contact with metal snaps. A positive patch test response to 2.5% nickel sulfate in petrolatum was observed in both boys. Allergic contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis is not uncommon and probably occurs more often than recognized.
The occurrence of house dust mites was measured in homes of 24 patients with atopic dermatitis, 30 patients with mite-sensitive asthma and 32 patients with asthma not related to house dust mites. Patients with mite-positive asthma and patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly higher exposure to house dust mites compared with patients with mite-negative asthma. For atopic dermatitis the higher exposure to house dust mites corresponded to a relative risk of 4.7 and a clear dose-response relationship was demonstrated between exposure and risk of disease in the subgroups of patients with atopic dermatitis. The present epidemiologic results support the idea that house dust mites may be an etiologic factor in a proportion of adult patients with atopic dermatitis.
Irritant dermatitis is an eczematous reaction to toxic chemicals contacting the skin. The mechanisms by which various chemicals elicit dermatitis are multiple. Strong irritants quickly elicit signs and symptoms of dermatitis, but weak irritants may not. Chronic cumulative exposure to weak irritants can elicit dermatitis which may mimic allergic contact dermatitis and mislead the physician and patient with respect to cause and preventative strategy. The skins of different people vary in susceptibilities to irritation. Susceptibility is also influenced by chemical properties, vehicles, concentrations, amounts applied to the skin surface, surface area, regional variations, length of exposure, method of exposure, age, sex, race, genetic background, environmental factors, hardening, concomitant disease, and the excited skin syndrome as well as treatment. Patch testing can help distinguish between allergens and irritants, but pitfalls may mislead.
By means of a prospective study design and multivariate regression analyses we have studied the relative importance of atopy, metal dermatitis and earlier hand eczema as risk factors for the development of hand eczema in women during 20 months of "wet" hospital work. The population consisted of 1857 women. The prevalence of hand eczema during the observation period was 41%. The risk of developing hand eczema was calculated as predicted relative odds ratios. The interrelationship of the risk factors was analysed. A summarized description of this analysis shows that a history of earlier hand eczema increased the odds by 12.9 times, a history of metal dermatitis by 1.8 times and atopic dermatitis and atopic mucosal symptoms by 1.3 times. Thus a history of earlier hand eczema seems of crucial importance for the occurrence of hand eczema in women in 'wet' hospital work. Our hypothesis is that a history of earlier hand eczema may be considered a major indicator of a skin vulnerability factor predisposing the individual to hand eczema. If the hypothesis is true, this factor may be present approximately in one half of the subjects with atopic dermatitis, in one fourth of the subjects with atopic mucosal symptoms and in one fifth of the non-atopics.
The three anthropophilic species of schistosomes produce local or systemic reactions that are a reflection of host interaction with the stage of the parasite. Dermatitis schistosomica is a transient, local irritant or hypersensitivity reaction during the penetration phase of the cercariae. Early nonspecific reactions are characterized by a severe, transient, systemic, immune-complex disease referred to as Katayama disease, which occurs during migration of the juvenile worm in the bloodstream. Late nonspecific reactions are characterized by a mild, transient hypersensitivity reaction during oviposition by adult worms. Specific late cutaneous manifestations are rare and are produced by the ectopic migration of ova or worms into the skin, with asymptomatic or symptomatic, chronic, granulomatous, and fibrotic mucocutaneous lesions with variable morphologic characteristics. The avian schistosomes produce a cercarial dermatitis that is a more severe form of dermatitis schistosomica but lacks systemic complications and reflects the host reaction to the destruction of the cercariae in the skin. Marine dermatitis or "sea bather's eruption" is probably an irritant or toxic transient reaction of unknown origin with no systemic implication, whereas "Dogger Bank itch" is an allergic contact eczematous dermatitis caused by a metabolite produced by a marine organism.
Epidermal patterns of class II human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) expression in atopic and allergic contact dermatitis have been compared, using monoclonal antibodies recognizing each subregion. Expression of class II human lymphocyte antigens on keratinocytes has been confirmed in allergic contact dermatitis, while we have found them to be absent in atopic dermatitis. This finding argues that cell-mediated immune responses, possibly to epicutaneous contact with allergen, are not implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.
Human leukocyte elastase (HLE) is a broad spectrum serine protease derived from neutrophils and macrophages. We developed an assay to determine HLE activity on the skin surface in patients with inflammatory skin diseases. HLE activity was absent in the skin of healthy controls. A massive increase of HLE activity was found in lesional skin of psoriasis (31 times), allergic contact dermatitis (55 times), and atopic dermatitis (35 times), but not in uninvolved skin of diseased patients. Therefore, this assay appears to represent a useful biochemical marker of epidermal inflammation. The presence of proteolytically active HLE in diseased epidermis, which is known to contain specific inhibitors of this enzyme, suggests a pathophysiologic role of this enzymatic activity in psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis.
To investigate the role of bacteria on facial rosacea-like dermatitis lesion in adult type atopic dermatitis, we measured the numbers of bacteria on the skin, nasal and pharyngeal surface of each individual, and then examined its sensitivity to antibiotics. The numbers of bacteria on the surface of skin increased according to the severity of skin eruption. Staphylococcus aureus was detected from the skin and nasal surface more than pharyngeal surface. Bacteria on the pharyngeal surface were both staphylococcus aureus and haemophilus parainfluenzae. Therefore, it is suggested that bacterial flora on the pharynx is different from those of the skin and nose. The treatment with antibiotics was effective for exudative lesions, whereas lichenified lesion did not respond to antibiotic therapy. These results suggest that bacteria on the skin surface are one of precipitating factors of the rosacea-like dermatitis of atopic dermatitis.
To see whether or not IgE-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells are specific to skin lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD), we performed immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic examinations of dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB) contact dermatitis lesions provoked in uninvolved skin of eight patients with AD. In all of the eight examined, IgE-positive epidermal Langerhans cells were observed in the DNCB dermatitis lesions. Typical staining of anti-IgE was absent in the epidermis of normal-appearing skin of five patients with AD. Thus, it is likely that IgE positive epidermal Langerhans cells non-specifically occur in different eczematous diseases provoked in patients with AD.
6 patients are described who developed contact dermatitis after cereal contact on atopic skin for periods of 2 to 20 years. 2 patients were wheat flour patch-test-positive. They had punch biopsies taken for standard histological and immunohistochemical investigation by labeling with monoclonal antibodies, anti-DR and anti-IgE. Sections showed features of contact dermatitis. There were many dendritic cells located perivascularly in the papilla and in the epidermidis, intensely positive for monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. In control atopic subjects, there were a few perivascular IgE positive cells, probably mastocytes. This study shows that there may be a relationship between some allergens and atopic eczema in patients exposed to them in the course of their work. In some cases, there was a true allergic contact dermatitis, seen through the clinical and histological characteristics, and the results of immunohistochemical study.
Of 545 consecutive contact dermatitis clinic patients, 271 (49.7%) were women, 29 (10.7%) of whom had hand dermatitis alone. 17 (58.6%) of these hand cases were allergic, the main sensitizers being nickel and essential oils in oranges. Dress makers were mostly affected by nickel, while orange sellers and peelers were positive to orange peel, fragrance mix, balsam of Peru and formaldehyde in varying combinations. 8 (27.6%) of the hand cases were due to irritants and wet jobs, and possibly to allergens not tested. 24 (83%) of the hand cases were occupational. Only 1 Nigerian woman had true housewife's hand dermatitis. It was not possible to define the rôle of atopy because of unreliable histories. 2 cases of pompholyx and a negative patch test occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Eleven nickel-hypersensitive patients with chronic, dyshidrotic hand eczema aggravated by oral challenge with 0.6-2.5 mg nickel were treated with 100 mg tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (Antabuse) two to four times daily for 4-10 weeks. Nine of the patients experienced a flare of the dermatitis shortly after initiation of the treatment. During the course of treatment the dermatitis of seven patients cleared, improvement was seen in two patients, and in two the dermatitis remained unchanged. Flare was seen in six patients when the treatment was discontinued. Seven patients experienced side effects such as fatigue, headache and dizziness. The treatment of four patients was discontinued due to side effects. During the treatment high levels of nickel were found in the serum and urine.