Background: atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease, characterized by itching eczematous lesions which are symmetrically distributed in peculiar sites and are associated with xerosis and, often, atopic habitus. Generally, also in adults, the diagnosis of AD is based on clinical features combined with the disease history. During the past decades, several diagnostic criteria have been proposed to bring uniformity to AD diagnosis, but their usefulness is still discussed. Objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of minor cutaneous features in adults suffering from AD and their possible correlation with the lesions onset time and the AD subgroups. Materials and methods: 51 consecutive AD subjects over 18 years were investigated to ascertain a family and personal history of allergic mucosal atopic disease, the age of onset, morphology and localization sites of skin lesions, an increase of total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and a sensitivity to inhalants, pollens and foods. Moreover, 26 minor cutaneous features of AD were considered in all patients and in 80 not atopic control subjects. Results and conclusions: the AD minor cutaneous features (and in particular xerosis, Dennie-Morgan infraorbital fold, itch when sweating, fissures and lichenification at the corner of the mouth, palmar hyperlinearity) should be carefully investigated in all adults with eczematous lesions. However, these signs, the lesions early onset (under age of 2 years), and the family history of atopy must be considered in doubtful cases, when less than 4 of the 6 basic criteria are satisfied (more or less lichenified eczematous lesions, symmetrically localized in flexural sites of limbs, eyelids, lips, forehead, cheeks, and lateral sites of the neck; severe and intermittent itch; chronically-relapsing course; diffuse xerosis; personal history of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma; elevated serum IgE and allergen-specific IgE).
Gli aspetti clinici minori per la diagnosi di dermatite atopica dell’adulto
BELLINI, VERONICA;BIANCHI, LEONARDO;LISI, Paolo
2011
Abstract
Background: atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease, characterized by itching eczematous lesions which are symmetrically distributed in peculiar sites and are associated with xerosis and, often, atopic habitus. Generally, also in adults, the diagnosis of AD is based on clinical features combined with the disease history. During the past decades, several diagnostic criteria have been proposed to bring uniformity to AD diagnosis, but their usefulness is still discussed. Objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of minor cutaneous features in adults suffering from AD and their possible correlation with the lesions onset time and the AD subgroups. Materials and methods: 51 consecutive AD subjects over 18 years were investigated to ascertain a family and personal history of allergic mucosal atopic disease, the age of onset, morphology and localization sites of skin lesions, an increase of total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and a sensitivity to inhalants, pollens and foods. Moreover, 26 minor cutaneous features of AD were considered in all patients and in 80 not atopic control subjects. Results and conclusions: the AD minor cutaneous features (and in particular xerosis, Dennie-Morgan infraorbital fold, itch when sweating, fissures and lichenification at the corner of the mouth, palmar hyperlinearity) should be carefully investigated in all adults with eczematous lesions. However, these signs, the lesions early onset (under age of 2 years), and the family history of atopy must be considered in doubtful cases, when less than 4 of the 6 basic criteria are satisfied (more or less lichenified eczematous lesions, symmetrically localized in flexural sites of limbs, eyelids, lips, forehead, cheeks, and lateral sites of the neck; severe and intermittent itch; chronically-relapsing course; diffuse xerosis; personal history of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma; elevated serum IgE and allergen-specific IgE).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
