Prognosis of atopic dermatitis. A prospective study in early adulthood.

The course and development of atopic symptoms were followed up in 801 atopic dermatitis patients, in 207 allergic rhinitis or asthma patients, and in 517 control subjects. The patients were studied in the Dermatology Clinic during their teens and the follow-up studies were carried out at the ages of 22-41. Persistent or frequently relapsing dermatitis occurred in 77-91% of those who suffered from severe or moderate atopic dermatitis during their teens and in more than one half of those patients who only had mild dermatitis at the corresponding age. Atopic dermatitis had started in 13-17% of allergic rhinitis/asthma patients. At the time of the follow-up examination, severe dermatitis was seen in only six percent and moderate symptoms in 35% of atopic dermatitis patients. Dermatitis was generally seen in multiple loci: on the face, hands, extremities, and body. Deterioration of dermatitis in autumn and winter was experienced by one third to 88% of the atopic dermatitis patients. Psychic stress was experienced as a major aggravating factor in one half to two thirds of atopic dermatitis patients. Prick test positivity occurred in 62-89% of the dermatitis patients. Animal allergens, molds, grasses, birch, and house dust mite were the most common allergens. Associations between evident allergen exposure and deterioration of the dermatitis occurred in individual cases.

Results of treatment of primary ovarian carcinoma.

A retrospective evaluation of 146 patients with primary ovarian carcinoma treated in the University Central Hospital of Tampere over the period 1962-1971 is presented. Diagnosis and clinical stage of the carcinoma were always confirmed operatively. 54.1% of the cases were diagnosed at clinical stage I-II. The mode of treatment was surgery without any adjuvant therapy in only 15 cases (10.3%), surgery and chemotherapy in 55 cases (37.7%), surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 29 cases (19.9%) and surgery combined with radiotherapy in 13 cases (8.9%). In 34 cases of advanced ovarian cancer the operation remained explorative. Chemotherapy comprised high-dose cyclosphosphamide therapy and radiotherapy was given as external irradiation. The 5-year survival rate in the entire material was 47.9%; in stage I 82.3%, stage II 58.8%, stage III 23.1% and stage IV 0%. The prognosis was best for patients with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and poorest for patients with anaplastic and endometrioid adenocarcinoma.