FREQUENCY OF SPECIFIC IGE REACTIVITY TO Y EAST AND MOLD ALLERGENS IN ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

44 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis were subdivided into a gr oup with mild and another group with severe symptoms due to the atopic dermatitis area and severitiy index (ADASI). To determine the depende ncy of the severity of the dermatose on the exposition to or infection with different fungi sera of these patients were investigated for occ urrence of specific serum IgE antibodies against Candida albicans, Sac charomyces cerevisiae and different little-known mould allergens. Tota l IgE in patients with mild symptoms (144.3 +/- 41.1 IU/ml) was signif icantly lower than in those with severe atopic dermatitis (2162.8 +/- 230.4 IU/ml) Total IgE level of both groups significantly differed fro m that of the investigated control group (total IgE 38.9 +/- 7.7 IU/ml ). Specific IgE against various yeasts and moulds showed different fre quencies dependent on allergen in patients suffering from severe atopi c dermatitis. Cross reactions were found between Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In four patients specific IgE antibodies cou ld be detected both to Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and to all other investigated fungi. It is suggested that this may be rather due to a polysensitization allergens may be of minor importance for exacerbation and maintenance of atopic dermatitis. In some cases, merely Candida albicans should be considered and eliminated.