ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENT OF PERFORATION OF THE SKIN HORNY LAYER BARRIER- DEMONSTRATED BY PERCUTANEOUS-ABSORPTION TESTING OF GRASS-POLLEN ANDHISTAMINE

The perforation of skin/horny layer barrier (prick-testing) is present ly not standarized regarding its manual intensity. The main purpose re presents the perforation of only the horny layer; bleeding shouldn't o ccur. A new method was developed to acknowledge the uppermost epidermi cal layer. Therefore an injection needle was connected with the anode of a 9 voltage battery; an indifferent ECG-gel-electrode - for example affixed to the lower arm - connected with the cathode. The performed perforation of the air-dry stratum corneum (isolation layer for the el ectric current) was recognized by the reaction of a milliamperemeter ( about 0.05 mA) integrated in the electric current. On 6 patients, suff ering from allergic rhinitis, comparable prick-tests with gras pollen and histamine were performed. The results showed that the absorption o f substrate (size of the wheals) after sole electric pricking was smal ler than after conventional (standard) pricking. To attain similar rea ctions, the tested skin area had to be electronically prikked five con secutive times. These facts permit the conclusion that the perforation on the skin was performed in a more carefully controlled way. Therefo re this procedure could possibly be standardized through additional st udies. Furthermore the electronical pricking could be used to improve the percutaneous absorption of topical applicated drugs; especially th e penetration of higher molecular substances/drugs, for example newly discovered cytokines.