Successful interferon alpha therapy in atopic dermatitis of Besnier's prurigo pattern with normal serum IgE and blood eosinophil fraction: Randomizedcase-controlled study

A randomized case-controlled study was carried out to investigate for inter feron alpha therapy in atopic dermatitis (AD) of Besnier's prurigo pattern with normal serum IgE and normal blood eosinophil fraction. Interferon alph a therapy was conducted on 14 non-responders to interferon gamma and subseq uent thymopentin therapy among 100 atopic dermatitis patients, Eight patien ts who improved significantly, showed skin lesions of the Besnier's prurigo pattern with normal serum IgE and normal blood eosinophil fraction. For th e randomized prospective case-controlled study, 44 patients with the above characteristics were selected. Thirteen Besnier's prurigo patients were tre ated with interferon alpha therapy, ten with interferon gamma, ten with thy mopentin, and the remaining 11 were untreated as the control group. With in terferon alpha therapy, 11 out of 13 Besnier's prurigo patients with normal IgE and normal blood eosinophil fraction improved significantly, two out o f ten improved with interferon gamma therapy, and none improved with thymop entin therapy or in the untreated control group. Interferon alpha therapy w as effective on AD of Besnier's prurigo pattern with normal serum IgE and n ormal blood eosinophil fraction. These results suggest the possibility of n on-IgE-mediated AD and the heterogeneity of atopic dermatitis, (C) 2001 Aca demic Press.