title: Molecular pathogenesis and clinical implications of eczema herpeticum.
abstract: A subgroup of patients with atopic dermatitis develops one or more episodes of a severe viral skin infection caused by herpes simplex virus superimposed on eczematous skin lesions. This condition is named atopic dermatitis complicated by eczema herpeticum. Characteristic features of patients developing eczema herpeticum include an early age of onset of atopic dermatitis with a persistent and severe course into adulthood, predilection for eczematous skin lesions in the head and neck area, elevated total serum IgE levels and increased allergen sensitisation. Deficiencies at the level of both the innate and the adaptive immune system, which have been identified in atopic dermatitis, are much more pronounced in this subgroup. Predisposing cellular factors include a reduced number of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the epidermis and a modified capacity of these cells to produce type I interferons after allergen challenge. In addition, lower levels of antimicrobial peptides in the skin of atopic dermatitis patients, resulting in part from a Th2-prone micromilieu, contribute to the lack of an effective defence against viral attack. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of eczema herpeticum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bussmann
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Natalija
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007617:Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000209:etiology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D023083:beta-Defensins; D054804:Cathelicidins