title: Immunologic aspects of atopic dermatitis.
abstract: The immunology of atopic dermatitis is complex, multilayered, and multifaceted. In one realm are the IgE-mediated, type I hypersensitivity reactions that can be elicited in at least 80% of patients. A second realm is that associated with cell-mediated immunity and delayed-type hypersensitivity (type IV) reactions. Scattered between these immunologic paradigms are the various splinters: immune complex abnormalities, putative late-phase reactions, and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity. The inflammatory lesion of atopic dermatitis probably is a composite of the many model reactions that investigators have glimpsed but never resolved into a reasonable concept.
authors: Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Hanifin
mesh_terms: D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E