title: Gianotti-Crosti syndrome and allergic background.
abstract: The aim of the study was to verify whether there is a relationship between Gianotti-Crosti syndrome and an allergic background in children. Twenty-nine children affected by Gianotti-Crosti syndrome were first screened for a large panel of microbiological examinations, including serological and cultural tests for viruses and bacteria. A causative agent was identified in only 10 cases (34.4%). In five cases a diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection was made on the basis of significant titres of anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies (IgM) associated with constitutional symptoms (fever, pharyngitis-tonsillitis). Our data concur with several clinical studies demonstrating that Epstein-Barr virus is now the most common viral agent associated with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. For allergic evaluation, a group of 59 age- and sex-matched children investigated for recurrent infections were used as controls. The presence of atopic dermatitis (24.1%) in those with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome was significantly higher (p < 0.005) than in the control group (6.8%). In addition, a more common family history for atopy was 51.7% vs. 31% (p < 0.027) and the percentage of patients with total IgE greater than +2 SD for age higher than in controls (27.6% vs. 13.7%), as was the percentage of specific IgE present (31% vs. 17.2%). These results indicate that atopy is significantly associated with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. ricci@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrizi
authors.forename: Iria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masi
mesh_terms: D000169:Acrodermatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male