U. Darsow et al., GRAMINEAE POLLEN AS TRIGGER FACTORS OF ATOPIC ECZEMA - EVALUATION OF DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES USING THE ATOPY PATCH TEST, British journal of dermatology, 137(2), 1997, pp. 201-207
After contact with grass pollen, seasonal exacerbations of eczematous
skin lesions have been described in a subgroup of patients with atopic
eczema (AE), Epicutaneous patch testing with aeroallergens (atopy pat
ch test, APT) has been used to investigate these patients, We performe
d comparative APT in 79 patients with AE and 20 control subjects (14 n
on-atopic volunteers and six patients with grass pollen allergic rhino
conjunctivitis). Subjects were tested with grass pollen allergen extra
ct in petrolatum and with unprocessed native dry pollen of Dactylis gl
omerata. Results after 48 h were compared with the patient's history,
corresponding skin prick test and specific IgE, Fifteen of the 79 AE p
atients showed clear-cut eczematous reactions to unprocessed D, glomer
ata pollen; 14 of these had an elevated serum IgE to D. glomerata and
13 had a positive skin prick test. Twenty patients had a positive APT
reaction to grass pollen allergen extract, including 12 of the D. glom
erata reactive subjects (P<0.001). Positive patch test reactions to D,
glomerata were seen in 66.7% of cases with and 10.5% of patients with
out a predictive history of exacerbations during the pollen season. Fo
r the standardized extract, these percentages were 75% vs. 16.4% (P <
0.001). No side-effects were observed, Control subjects showed no posi
tive reactions, We conclude that grass pollen preparations map be used
to investigate trigger factors for eczematous skin lesions in a subgr
oup of patients with AE.