ISSN:
1365-2133
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Scquential measurements were made of total and specific serum IgE concentrations in an adult patient with severe atopic eczema. Initially, the total serum IgE conccntration and the concentration of IgE antibody to house dust mite were very high. These conccntrations decreased over the next 3 years, following amelioration of her eczema. However, they rose again when her eczema worsencd as a rcsult of marital problems and fell oncc again with amelioration of her eczema after scparation from her husband. The IgE concentrations to other common allergens, however, remained stable during this pcriod. These results suggest that large amounts of house dust mite antigen may be scratched into the skin during clinical exacerbations of the eczema, this in turn aggravating the state of the skin because of hypersensitivity to the mite.The pathogcncsis of atopic eczema remains an enigma. Although histological changes in the skin do not immediately suggest an IgE mediated hypersensitivity mechanism, skin mast cells are increased in number1 and major basic protein derived from cosinophils is also demonstrable,2 It is also well recognized that patients with severe persistent eczema have higher total serum IgE concentrations than thosc with mild eczema3,4 and a large proportion of these antibodies are directed against house dust mite (HDM) antigens.5 It has been suggested that this results, at least in part, from HDM antigens being scratched into the skin;6 this would create a vicious circle in those with IgE antibodies to the mite.Sequential measurements of total and specific serum IgE concentrations were performed in a patient with severe atopic eczema and related to the severity of the disease.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1987.tb04905.x
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