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Head and neck atopic dermatitis and malassezia-furfur-specific IgE antibodies.

Bayrou O, Pecquet C, Flahault A, Artigou C, Abuaf N, Leynadier F

Centre d'allergologie, INSERM Unité 444, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France. olivier.bayrou@tnn.ap-hop-paris.fr

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis of the head and neck (HNAD) has been recognized as a separate entity. Malassezia furfur, a lipophilic yeast, is considered to be a pathogenic allergen in this form of atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies and their relation to the severity of the disease. METHODS: IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies were assayed in 106 patients with HNAD. Controls included 25 patients with non-HNAD, 20 with nonatopic dermatitis and 16 with seborrheic dermatitis (including 4 with AIDS). RESULTS: There was a highly significant correlation between the level of anti-M.-furfur IgE and clinical severity. Furthermore, there was a significant but smaller correlation between total IgE and clinical severity. In patients with HNAD, total IgE was higher amongst men. CONCLUSION: IgE anti-M.-furfur antibodies are a good and specific marker for HNAD. IgE M. furfur levels are strongly correlated with the severity of the disease.

Published 9 August 2005 in Dermatology, 211(2): 107-13.
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