Classification of atopic hand eczema and the filaggrin mutations.

Hand eczema is a common disease with various risk factors of which atopic dermatitis is known to be one of the most important. Recently, two mutations in the gene coding for filaggrin, a protein important for the skin barrier, have repeatedly been shown to be associated with atopic dermatitis. Moreover, one study point towards an association between the filaggrin null alleles and the subgroup of patients having both hand eczema and atopic dermatitis.

Clinical characteristics and consequences of hand eczema - an 8-year follow-up study of a population-based twin cohort.

Background: Few population-based clinical follow-up studies on hand eczema are reported.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize clinical symptoms and to examine occupational and medical consequences as well as persistence of hand eczema in a population-based twin cohort.

Patients/methods: A total of 274 individuals with and without hand eczema were examined, patch tested, and interviewed in 1997-1998 and 2005-2006.

Retesting with the TRUE Test in a population-based twin cohort with hand eczema - allergies and persistence in an 8-year follow-up study.

Population-based studies on contact allergy with retesting of individuals are infrequently performed. Variable degrees of persistence are reported when individuals with contact allergy are retested with years in between. The patch test results of 270 individuals tested in 2005-2006 are presented and the pattern and frequency of sensitization discussed.

Heritability of hand eczema is not explained by comorbidity with atopic dermatitis.

Genetic factors have been shown to influence the risk of hand eczema, and may theoretically influence the frequency of eruptions as well as age at onset of the disease. However, the result may be confounded by atopic dermatitis, which is a major risk factor for development of hand eczema and is known to be influenced by genetic factors. In this study, the importance of genetic and environmental risk factors in the etiology of hand eczema, independent of atopic dermatitis, was investigated in a population-based twin cohort.

An evaluation of dose/unit area and time as key factors influencing the elicitation capacity of methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) in MCI/MI-allergic patients.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) contact allergy affects 1-3% of patch-tested patients in European centres. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the importance of the factors--time and concentration (dose/per unit area)--in the elicitation capacity by means of a repeated open application test (ROAT) experimental design. The study was designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response ROAT preceded by a diagnostic patch testing.

Cross-reactivity between thiurams.

Retesting with an allergen at a site with previous allergic contact dermatitis has been shown to enhance reactivity. It has been suggested that retesting with a cross-reactive allergen will also induce hyperreactivity. Concurrent sensitization to more than 1 thiuram is common, but whether this is due to concomitant primary sensitization or cross-reactivity is uncertain.

Allergic contact dermatitis from allyl isothiocyanate in a Danish cohort of 259 selected patients.

Allyl isothiocyanate is present in many plants. Allergic contact dermatitis from allyl isothiocyanate is well known but infrequently reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of contact allergy to allyl isothiocyanate in patients with suspected contact dermatitis from vegetables and food.

Tenofovir treatment in an unselected cohort of highly antiretroviral experienced HIV positive patients.

The aim of the present study was to explore the treatment effect of tenofovir as implemented in clinical practice. Data are presented on 34 patients. 11 patients had tenofovir added to a stable anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and 23 patients had drugs other than tenofovir.