Allergic contact dermatitis to some medicaments.

Over the years, changes have had to be made in the list of topical drugs most frequently responsible for allergic contact dermatitis. The 4 most common sensitizers in Italy in the past have been penicillin, sulfonamide, promethazine and neomycin. Now the list is headed by neomycin, benzocaine and ethylenediamine.

Monocyte Fc-IgG receptors expression and soluble suppressor factor in skin squamous cell carcinoma.

The expression of Fc-IgG receptors on mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes/macrophages), as well as the activity of soluble immune suppressor supernatant of T-cell proliferation (SISS-T) factor have been investigated in 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip, including 8 patients with metastases in the regional lymph glands. The results demonstrated a significant increase of the expression of Fc-IgG receptors only on circulating monocytes of patients with metastatic SCC. The suppressor function evaluated by means of the SISS-T factor proved normal in patients with nonmetastatic skin SCC and reduced in 8 patients with metastatic SCC.

T cell subsets and soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) factor in skin squamous cell carcinoma.

T cell subsets (theophylline-sensitive T lymphocytes and T gamma lymphocytes), and the activity of soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) factor have been investigated in a total of 53 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Eight of these had metastatic regional lymph nodes. The results showed decreased values for theophylline-sensitive T lymphocytes and elevated values for T gamma cells.

T gamma and theophylline-sensitive T lymphocytes in allergic contact dermatitis.

Two lymphocyte subpopulations, T cells bearing a receptor for the Fc fragment of IgG (T gamma) and theophylline-sensitive T cells, were investigated in 49 patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in the acute phase and compared with a control group. Patients with ACD had markedly reduced relative T gamma and theophylline-sensitive T lymphocyte levels, compared with normals (P less than 0.0005).

Cell-mediated immunity in alopecia areata.

A study of cell-mediated immunity was carried out in total of 69 subjects with alopecia areata (AA) of the scalp in various phases of its evolution. The blastic responses to mitogens PHA, Con A, and PWM proved significantly reduced, quite independently of the phase of the disease. The total E-rosettes test demonstrated a significant reduction in T-lymphocytes in patients with active AA.

[Cerebrovascular accidents in patients with migraine (author's transl)].

Cerebrovascular accidents were observed in patients with migraine, and systematic investigation for the presence of a mitral valve prolapse was positive in all cases. Precise diagnosis requires ultrasonography examination. The pathogenicity of the cerebrovascular accidents in these patients could involve an emboligenic mechanism related to the prolapse of the mitral valve.

Shoe contact dermatitis.

The incidence of contact allergy was studied in a series of 165 patients with eczematous dermatitis of the feet correlated clinically with shoe contact. Positive reactions to one or more substances were recorded in 108 patients (65.4%).

The active E-rosette test in allergic contact dermatitis.

An active subpopulation of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, characterized by rapid (5 min) rosette formation with sheep red blood cells (A-RFC), was measured in patients with acute allergic contact dermatitis. A significant rise in A-RFC occurred in these subjects. The number of total T cells was also increased in the same group of patients, but the percentage of increase was smaller than that found in A-RFC.