title: Allergic triggers in atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Food or environmental allergens play a significant pathogenic role in a subgroup of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and can trigger eczema flares. This review focuses on when and which diagnostic and allergen-avoidance measures are beneficial. Diagnosis of allergic triggers may be aided by skin-prick tests measuring serum-specific IgE and/or atopy patch tests (APT) based on the patient's history, and when necessary, oral food challenges (OFC). In a subset of patients, therapeutic measures, such as elimination of the incriminated allergen(s), can lead to marked improvement of AD; this is especially true for food allergens, but can also apply to inhalant allergens.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Caubet
authors.forename: Philippe A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Eigenmann
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E