[How do I treat atopic neurodermatitis?]. / Wie behandele ich die Neurodermitis atopica?

In view of numerous insufficient modes of treatment of atopic dermatitis, Hartung and Pürschel elaborated a more agreeable way of treatment without side effects including all the multifactorial aspects of the disease and being as complete and as pleasant as possible. The dermatologic climate therapist practised at the Hospital for Allergy and Skin Diseases on the North Sea island of Norderney founded by Hartung in 1953. Treatment of affected children or adults - over 20,000 patients so far - starts with a complete general medical and dermatological check-up. The aim of our therapy is to withdraw topical and systemic applications of glucocorticoids and to achieve intervals free of signs and symptoms. The favorable effects of the North Sea climate are the basis of extensive dermatological treatment and psychological guidance of the patients. There have been no side effects observed.

[Behavior of eosinophilic granulocytes, total IgE and allergen-specific IgE antibodies in atopic neurodermatitis during hospital treatment in the North Sea climate]. / Verhalten von eosinophilen Granulozyten, Gesamt-IgE und allergenspezifischen IgE-Antikörpern bei Neurodermitis atopica während stationärer Behandlung im Nordseeklima.

Absolute number of eosinophilic leucocytes, total IgE level, and specific IgE antibodies against the environmental antigens cock's foot, house-dust, and house-dust mite (dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were obtained from 25 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis at the beginning as well as towards the end of hospital treatment in the maritime climate of the North Sea. Initially the absolute eosinophilic leucocytes were increased. According to the improvement of the atopic skin lesions, there was a significant decrease up to normal rates in several cases at the end of hospital treatment. The increased number of eosinophilic leucocytes observed at the beginning of therapy was correlated to the total IgE level. On an average, pathologic initial rates of total IgE going along with acute lesions decreased during hospital treatment; but this observation may be statistically accidental, the cutaneous lesions, however, completely disappeared. Elevated initial rate of antigen-specific IgE antibodies, as well, showed obvious reduction, but they did not reach normal values in any case. According to update knowledge, the IgE level in serum seems to be predominantly controlled by a multifactorial genetic system.

[Comparative results of fluvographic measurements in psoriasis vulgaris and atopic neurodermatitis during climate therapy on the North Sea]. / Vergleichende Ergebnisse Fluvographischer Messungen bei Psoriasis vulgaris und Neurodermitis atopica während Klimatherapie/Nordsee.

Two groups of patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis respectively have been compared with regard to the results of thermal conductivity obtained by fluvographic measures. The abnormal reactions of vessels in both skin diseases initially showed completely opposite fluvographic data. As a result of clinical treatment in the maritime climate of the North Sea, the abnormal reactions of the vessels as well as pathologic skin lesions subsided. These findings are documented by fluvographic data catching up with those found in people without skin problems.

[Skin moisture content in neurodermatitis patients in a maritime climate zone]. / Die Hautfeuchtigkeit bei Neurodermitikern in maritimer Klimazone.

89 patients with atopic dermatitis were tested with regard to hydration of the horny layer. The measurements were taken at different topographic areas of the skin. It could be demonstrated that the hydration of the stratum corneum in patients with atopic dermatitis does not basically differ from that of healthy skin.

[Fluvographic research in atopic dermatitis during climatotherapy/North Sea (author's transl)]. / Fluvographische Untersuchungen bei Neurodermitis während Klimatherapie an der Nordsee.

Measurements of thermal conductivity were carried out by using a fluvograph on a group of 68 adult patients with atopic dermatitis in the maritime climate of the North Sea island Norderney. The data obtained at the beginning of treatment - especially in the atopic dermatitis infiltrate - showed in comparison with a control-group of 20 persons without skin problems on average an obvious reduction in thermal conductivity as well as in supply of skin with blood. Repeated fluvographic measurements done on patients with atopic dermatitis show a significant increase towards normalization reflecting the improvement of atopic dermatitis skin lesions during clinical treatment in the maritime climate of the North Sea island.

[Neurodermatitis and psyche]. / Neurodermitis und Psyche

The clinical term "constitutional eczematoid" (synonyms: neurodermite, eczema flexuarum, atopic dermatitis e. g.) with/without bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis is presented in its multifactorial dimensions from an overlooking point of view. There are different clinical types, the neurodermite --, the prurigo, the seborrheic and the mixed type of atopic dermatitis. The psychic way of behaviour of these patients which is the neurodermite structure of personality is presented thoroughly. This way of behaviour can especially be seen in patients of neurodermite and prurigo type of atopic dermatitis. In about 10% so called extreme case can be stated presenting this abnormal psychic way of behaviour. Wether in patients with atopic dermatitis a genetic caused psycho-dermatosis has to be discussed, cannot be answered, because there is no allround valid conception of ethology and pathogenesis for this multifactorial disease.

[Radioimmunologic determination of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE-antibodies in diffuse neurodermitis]. / Radioimmunologische Bestimmung des Gesamt-IgE und allergenspezifischer IgE-Antikörper bei Neurodermitis diffusa

Total IgE levels in sera of 165 patients with atopic dermatitis and 79 patients with dermatoses as well as normal control patients were determined by radioimmunoassay (Phadebas, Pharmacia). Although the mean value for patients with atopic dermatitis was found far above the mean value for normal controls, 38% of patients showed total IgE serum levels within the normal range. Highest IgE serum levels were observed in patients with the generalized form of the disease and in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. No direct correlation however, to severity of disease could be found. In a series of 50 patients prick tests were compared to total IgE serum levels and to levels of allergen specific antibodies determined by radioallergosorbent-test (RAST). Extracts of grass pollens and of animal dandruff were used. There was complete agreement between results of skin testing and RAST in at least 80%. While cross reactions were common with grass pollen extracts in RAST, there was no cross-over with animal dandruff. No correlation was found between titer of allergen specific antibody and severity of skin lesions. IgE specific antibody could be detected in 48% of patients with normal total IgE serum levels and in 82% of patients with elevated values.