BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been divided into the "extrinsic" and "intrinsic" type, in which "intrinsic AD" is characterized by the absence of allergen-specific IgE. Still, there is no consensus whether this "intrinsic type" of AD, which we denominate as atopiform dermatitis (AFD), is a distinct entity. OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was performed to compare the clinical and diagnostic features of AD and AFD. METHODS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD were selected. Cases did not have demonstrable allergen-specific IgE. Matched control subjects were tested positive for allergen-specific IgE. Patients were evaluated for medical history, quality of life, disease severity, and Hanifin and Rajka, U.K. and Millennium diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Eight percent (n = 34) of the selected patients had, in fact, AFD. Female predominance, absence of atopic diseases, later onset of disease, and milder disease severity were observed in AFD. A history of atopy, recurrent conjunctivitis, palmar hyperlinearity, keratosis pilaris, pityriasis alba, and hand and/or food eczema were significantly less present in AFD. Dennie-Morgan fold was positively associated with AFD. LIMITATIONS: Not all patients with negative allergen-specific IgE participated and a relatively small number of AFD patients were studied. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the absence of allergen-specific IgE, our findings support that AFD is an entity distinct from AD. With a distinction shown between AFD and AD, patient groups will be better defined and more homogeneous. Implications of this distinction will be of importance for preventive and therapeutic advice; diagnostic processes; and for future research.
BACKGROUND:Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been divided into the "extrinsic" and "intrinsic" type, in which "intrinsic AD" is characterized by the absence of allergen-specific IgE. Still, there is no consensus whether this "intrinsic type" of AD, which we denominate as atopiform dermatitis (AFD), is a distinct entity. OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was performed to compare the clinical and diagnostic features of AD and AFD. METHODS:Patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD were selected. Cases did not have demonstrable allergen-specific IgE. Matched control subjects were tested positive for allergen-specific IgE. Patients were evaluated for medical history, quality of life, disease severity, and Hanifin and Rajka, U.K. and Millennium diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Eight percent (n = 34) of the selected patients had, in fact, AFD. Female predominance, absence of atopic diseases, later onset of disease, and milder disease severity were observed in AFD. A history of atopy, recurrent conjunctivitis, palmar hyperlinearity, keratosis pilaris, pityriasis alba, and hand and/or food eczema were significantly less present in AFD. Dennie-Morgan fold was positively associated with AFD. LIMITATIONS: Not all patients with negative allergen-specific IgE participated and a relatively small number of AFDpatients were studied. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the absence of allergen-specific IgE, our findings support that AFD is an entity distinct from AD. With a distinction shown between AFD and AD, patient groups will be better defined and more homogeneous. Implications of this distinction will be of importance for preventive and therapeutic advice; diagnostic processes; and for future research.
Authors: A L Bosma; A Ascott; R Iskandar; K Farquhar; J Matthewman; M W Langendam; A Mulick; K Abuabara; H C Williams; P I Spuls; S M Langan; M A Middelkamp-Hup Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 9.228