Decreased lymphocyte aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione S-transferase activities in patients with hand dermatitis.

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) (EC 2.5.1.18) activity were measured in human lymphocytes of peripheral blood from 8 patients with irritant or allergic contact dermatitis of the hands, and compared with data from a control group. Both AHH and GST activity was found to be significantly depressed in the allergic and irritant contact dermatitis subjects, as compared with controls. It is suggested that AHH may be a quantitative marker of the inflammatory status.