[Contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis--rare comorbidity?].

Allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis represent two clinical entities resulting from the activation of two mutually exclusive subsets of T lymphocytes. Therefore, one might expect that the ability of atopic patients to evolve allergic contact dermatitis would be diminished. However, results of recent studies indicate, that similar cytokines' spectra play role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Similarly, the clinical epidemiological studies reveal comparable prevalence rates of contact hypersensitivity in atopic dermatitis patients and in non-atopics patients. Patch testing with contact allergens is substantiated in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.