John Libbey Eurotext




Hyperimmunoglobin E syndrom: a sign of TH1/TH2 imbalance?
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 9, Number 2, 129-31, March 1999, Cas clinique
Free Article
Author(s) : Y. Shirafuji, H. Matsuura, A. Sato, H. Kanzaki, H. Katayama, J. Arata
Summary : We report on a patient with hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, who developed pruritic vesiculopapules from the age of six months and also had recurrent episodes of skin abscesses and oral thrush. Serum IgE was extremely elevated at 59,514 IU/ml and specific IgE antibody to Staphylococcus aureus was positive. Histological examination from a vesiculopapule on the face revealed that eosinophil-rich infiltration involved hair follicles, similar to eosinophilic pustular folliculitis. We also examined cytokine profiles of circulating CD4+ T cells by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. The ratio of cells positive for interferon-gamma was significantly reduced compared with a control. Several reports have shown decreased interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome. We think that this cytokine profile and the histological findings of our patient support the hypothesis that TH1/TH2 imbalance is involved in hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome.
Keywords : eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, interferon -gamma, interleukine-4, TH1/TH2.

Hyperimmunoglobin E syndrom: a sign of TH1/TH2 imbalance?