title: Head and neck atopic dermatitis and malassezia-furfur-specific IgE antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis of the head and neck (HNAD) has been recognized as a separate entity. Malassezia furfur, a lipophilic yeast, is considered to be a pathogenic allergen in this form of atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the level of IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies and their relation to the severity of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies were assayed in 106 patients with HNAD. Controls included 25 patients with non-HNAD, 20 with nonatopic dermatitis and 16 with seborrheic dermatitis (including 4 with AIDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a highly significant correlation between the level of anti-M.-furfur IgE and clinical severity. Furthermore, there was a significant but smaller correlation between total IgE and clinical severity. In patients with HNAD, total IgE was higher amongst men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies are a good and specific marker for HNAD. IgE M. furfur levels are strongly correlated with the severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'allergologie, INSERM Unité 444, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France. olivier.bayrou@tnn.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bayrou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pecquet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flahault
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Artigou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abuaf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leynadier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008290:Malassezia / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E