Evaluation and relevance of atopic basic and minor features in patients with atopic dermatitis and in the general population.

In a prospective computerized study on atopic dermatitis (AD) several basic and minor clinical features in patients with AD (n = 110) and a sample of the normal population (n = 527) was studied systematically and analysed statistically with regard to their diagnostic importance. On basis of chi-square values a diagnostic score system was constructed which might help to establish a firm diagnosis of AD in patients with ambiguous cutaneous inflammatory disease. Based on this score system patients with more than 10 points should be considered atopic, patients with 6 to 10 points are suspected to be atopics. An association between serum IgE and the amount of atopic points was found. Seven percent of the normal population sample proved to be obviously atopic, another 19% were suspected to be atopics.