Handbook of Atopic Eczema

Clinical aspects of atopic eczema: Atopy: condition, disease or syndrome?.- History.- Epidemiology.- The burden of atopic eczema.- Clinical symptoms.- Atopic eczema in infants.- Stigmata of the atopic constitution.- Minimal forms.- Diagnosis.- Differential diagnosis.- Scoring systems.- Co-existing respiratory atopic diseases.- Complications and diseases associated with atopic eczema.- Diseases rarely associated with atopic eczema.- Natural history of atopic eczema.- Dry skin.- Occupational aspects with emphasis on atopic hand eczema.- Allergic contact dermatitis and atopic eczema.- Immunodeficiency syndromes and atopic eczema.- Atopic eczema as a psychosomatic disease.- Atopic diseases in families.- Histopathological and ultrastructural aspects.- Clinical manifestation of the itch sensation.- Clinical aspects of atopic eczema: Synopsis. Pathophysiology of Atopic Eczema: Clinical genetics.-Molecular genetics of atopy.- Methods to study gene loci for atopic eczema.- IgE and regulation of IgE synthesis.- Langerhans cells in the pathophysiology.- Inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells (IDEC).- Intrinsic versus extrinsic atopic eczema.- IgG subclasses.- Mast cells in the skin.- Role of eosinophils.- T-lymphocytes.- Keratinocytes.- Inflammatory mediators and chemokines.- Cytokines.- Vascular reactivity.- Neuropeptides.- Pathophysiology of itch.- Epidermal lipids.- The phenomenon or irritable skin.- Role of aeroallergens.- Role of food allergy.- Microbial products and atopic eczema.- Environmental pollution and atopy.- Animal models.- Autoimmunity.- Pathophysiology of atopic eczema: Synopsis. Management of patients with atopic eczema: Primary prevention of atopy.- Role of allergy testing.- Probiotic foods in the prevention.- Measuring disturbed barrier function.- Vehicles of topical treatment: Composition, principles of application and action.- Topical glucocorticosteroids.- Antimicrobial agents.- Antihistamines.- Clima-therapy.- Skin care and aesthetic medicine.- Dietary management.- Ultraviolet radiation therapy.- Psychotherapeutic approaches.- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors.- Therapy.- Systemic and topical immunomodulatory treatment.- Patient education programs.- Unconventional treatments.- Health economics.- Sense and nonsense of unconventional methods.- Management of patients with atopic eczema: Synopsis