[Pathogenesis and clinical aspects of atopic dermatitis].

Atopic dermatitis (a. D.) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disease of the skin caused by a genetically transmitted hypersensitivity to environmental substances. Its pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial: heredity of atopic constitution, disturbances of humoral (hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E) and cellular (defect of suppressor-T-cells) immunity, abnormal vascular reactions and abnormal skin functions. A. D. shows different forms in different age groups: Eczema infantum in infancy, Eczema flexurarum in childhood and Neurodermatitis disseminata and pruriginosa while and after puberty. Typically for all forms is a pruritus and the status neurodermiticus. The healing of a. D. is spontaneously possible at any time, but not predictable for a special case.