Atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease with altered immune and pharmacologic responses. Elevated serum IgE probably reflects defective immune regulation. Various other cellular immune defects rise and fall exacerbations and remissions of skin inflammation. Increased responsiveness to cholinergic and alpha adrenergic agents may relate to abnormalities of cyclic nucleotide regulation. Recent observations of abnormal cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-phosphodiesterase activity in atopic dermatitis may provide new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease.