FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS

[摘要] The previous observations of Eyster, Roth and Kierland showing that peripheral vasoconstriction of the fingers and toes occurs in patients with atopic dermatitis on exposure to a cold room and then to a hot room, were corroborated. Concomitant observations of the temperatures of the antecubital and popliteal fossae, however, demonstrated less vasoconstriction in the cold environment and more rapid vasodilation in the warm environment. Exposure to the cold room was not a prerequisite for the abnormal temperatures recorded in the hot room in patients with atopic dermatitis. Thus, small temperature differentials are as effective as large ones in eliciting abnormal peripheral vascular responses in patients with atopic dermatitis. Ninety-five % ethyl alcohol given orally induced no abnormal function in patients with atopic dermatitis. Persons with atopy other than dermatitis, namely bronchial asthma, hay fever and urticaria, upon movement from the cold room to the warm room had temperatures identical in the antecubital and popliteal fossae and nearly so in the toes and fingers to those in patients with atopic dermatitis. This finding accords with the clinically recognized association of these disease entities.