title: Influence of alpine mountain climate of Bavaria on patients with atopic diseases: studies at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS - Zugspitze) - a pilot study.
abstract: Mountain and maritime climate therapy takes advantage of specific climatic conditions to treat chronic allergic diseases. It was the aim of the study to investigate effects of a 5 day sojourn on atopic diseases at the highest German mountain. In this pilot study 18 patients with grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic ezcema or asthma and 11 non-allergic controls were included. Skin physiology parameters, changes of the respiratory and nasal functions, subjective symptoms and blood parameters were measured during a 5-day observation period in the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS) at the moderate altitude mountain region (Zugspitze; 2650 m alt.) compared to a low altitude area (Munich; 519 m alt.). Several of the skin physiology parameters changed significantly during the observation period (decrease of skin hydration, increase of skin smoothness, skin roughness, skin scaliness and pH-value). In patients with atopic eczema, the SCORAD (Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis) and the scores of the DIELH (Deutsches Instrument zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität bei Hauterkrankungen) did not change significantly. Histamine induced itch decreased significantly. Parameters of nasal function did not change significantly. Several lung parameters showed a slight, but statistically significant improvement (forced expiratory volume in one second/volume capacity [FEV1/VC], peak expiratory flow [PEF], maximum expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity [MEF 50], maximal mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity [MMFEF 25/75]), whereas the vital capacity (VC) decreased significantly. ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) in the serum and parameters of blood count changed significantly. These results show that the benefit of a moderate altitude mountain climate sojourn over a period of 5 days differs in depending on the atopic disease. Especially asthma parameters and itching of the skin improved. It would be interesting to assess the parameters during longer observation periods in alpine climate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany ; Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eberlein
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huss-Marp
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pfab
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leibl
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allertseder
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jarmila
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liptak
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kriegisch
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hennico
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latotski
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner von Eschenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buters
authors.affiliation: Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM, Zentrum Allergie und Umwelt), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
keywords: Asthma; Atopic eczema; Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus; Moderate-altitude mountain climate; Rhinoconjunctivitis; UFS; Zugspitze