Abstract
Atopic eczema (AE), or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing skin disease with a high prevalence of 2-5% (in children and young adults about 10%) (1-3). The discussion on the pathophysiology of AE is mirrored by the different names it has been given, such as prurigo Besnier, neurodermatitis, endogenous eczema, and neurodermitis constitutionalis siva atopica. Atopy is a very common finding in patients with this disease and their families (3-5). Atopy is defined as a familial tendency towards the development of certain diseases (extrinsic bronchial asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and/or atopic eczema) based on a hypersensitivity of skin and mucous membranes against environmental substances. This is associated with elevated IgE production and/or altered unspecific reactivity (6,7). AE is also clinically defined by a typically age-related distribution and morphology (1,4,8,9).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Atopic Dermatitis |
| Publisher | CRC Press |
| Pages | 437-451 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780203908877 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780824707422 |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2002 |