title: [Atopic dermatitis and psychological stress].
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Its main features are eczematous skin lesions with a typical distribution and severe pruritus. Allergens, skin irritants, systemic or local infections, environmental pollutants and hormonal changes have a role in the pathophysiology of AD. A further important trigger factor for both intrinsic and extrinsic AD is emotional stress. Recently published observations point to direct psychoneuroimmunological and -endocrinological mechanisms: Psychological stress causes a transient increase of peripheral blood eosinophil count and an increase in both CD8+/CD11b+ and CLA+ T-cells. In addition, stress changes the cytokine and the hormone profile with increased levels of IFN-gamma and IL-5, and decreased levels of cortisol in AD patients in contrast to healthy controls. These findings underline the role of immunological changes and a possible suppressed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis closing the loop for the final aggravation of AD.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone