Estrogen dermatitis: a dendritic-cell-mediated allergic condition.
BACKGROUND
Most estrogen dermatitides are induced by local or systemic contact dermatitis where dendritic cells are central, and tamoxifen has a blocking effect on dendritic cells.


METHODS
We present 5 cases of estrogen dermatitis in which the clinical features were prurigo, urticaria, acneiform eruption and annular erythema.


RESULTS
Tamoxifen was effective in 3 of 4 cases. Three of 4 biopsy specimens showed the formation of Langerhans cell nests in the epidermis and hair follicles and perivascular infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the dermis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a dendritic-cell-mediated allergic mechanism is involved in estrogen dermatitis.
Department of Dermatology, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima, Japan. syotsumoto@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Shinichi
S
Yotsumoto
Koji
K
Shimomai
Takaki
T
Hashiguchi
Hiroshi
H
Uchimiya
Kazunari
K
Usuki
Masayuki
M
Nishi
Takuro
T
Kanekura
Tamotsu
T
Kanzaki
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010328:Patch Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000485:Allergens; D004967:Estrogens; D013629:Tamoxifen