title: Low prevalence of the intrinsic form of atopic dermatitis among adult patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease commonly associated with respiratory allergies such as rhinitis and asthma, and a high serum level of IgE. In contrast to the 'classic' IgE-mediated allergic (extrinsic) form of AD, approximately 20% of the patients are reported to show normal IgE levels, lack of sensitizations towards environmental allergens, and absence of associated respiratory allergies. Accordingly, these patients are assigned to a nonallergic (intrinsic) form of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In order to define these two forms of AD more closely, 259 adult patients with AD were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a thorough diagnostic workup there were 18 patients (6.9%), who fulfilled the criteria of intrinsic AD. After follow-up, four additional patients had developed respiratory allergies or IgE-mediated sensitizations resulting in an overall proportion for intrinsic AD of 5.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these figures the nature and relevance of the intrinsic form of AD deserves further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fölster-Holst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christophers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weichenthal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E