ATOPY-ASSOCIATED SYNDROMES

In this study of the literature the association between atopic dermati tis (AD) and other hereditary conditions is reviewed. The most importa nt observations are related to the primary immunodeficiency syndromes, such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, selective IEA deficiency, and hyper -IgE syndrome. These are interesting from the pathogenetic point of vi ew with respect to the immunologic mechanisms leading to AD. In contra st, the significant association of AD with the ectodermal dysplasias ( ED), e.g. anhidrotic ED Christ-Touraine-Siemens and other ED, i.e. ass ociated with clefting and limb abnormalities, is more problematic to i nterpret, in as much as little is known about the genetic background o f this association. Finally the associations with metabolic diseases ( e.g. phenylketonuria), ichthyosis and the syndromes of Down, Dubowitz and Konigsmark-Berlin-Hollander are discussed.