SKIN COLONIZATION WITH PITYROSPORUM IN AT OPIC-DERMATITIS

50 patients suffering from long lasting atopic dermatitis were mycolog ically screened fora cutaneous colonization with Pityrosporum ovale. I n addition, Pityrosporum-specific IgE was measured and skin prick test s were performed in subgroups of the patients. The yeast was recovered in 72% of our cases. 71% of the patients investigated presented with Pityrosporum-specific IgE, and 43% of them had a positive prick test r esponse. Although tow levels of specific IgE must be critically interp reted in respect to a possible clinical relevance, an IgE-mediated imm une response may contribute to the epidermal inflammation in patients with positive prick tests. Cellular hypersensitivity to Pityrosporum a ntigens needs further studies.