Intracutaneous tests with pityrosporon extract in atopic dermatitis
Young, E.; Koers, W.J.; Berrens, L.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica. Supplementum 144: 122-124
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-8341 PMID: 2800893 Document Number: 326675
Skin prick- and intracutaneous tests with Pityrosporon (Malassezia furfur) extract were performed in 57 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. Tests were also performed on 52 controls, comprising 41 atopic patients with asthma and/or rhinitis, 7 non-atopic patients with allergic contact dermatitis and 4 non-atopic patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis or pityriasis versicolor. In the patients with atopic dermatitis the intracutaneous test was 87.5% positive, the skin prick test 59% positive and the RAST 65% postive. In the atopic controls the results were 12, 0 and 0%, respectively. It is suggested that skin tests with M. furfur extract and specific IgE determinations may contribute to the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and M. furfur may be of significance in the pathogenesis of this disease.