Allergic Contact Dermatitis presents all up-to-date chemical and physio-chemical concepts for the study and understanding of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The book covers all aspects of ACD - skin penetration and metabolism, identification of sensitizers and hapten-protein interaction, including new concepts of increasing importance such as molecular recognition and quantitative structure-activity relationships. In addition, comprehensive references are provided, maki...

This book is a compendium of tips on many different aspects of patch testing based on the recommendations of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG), which is the reference group for all dermato-allergologists. It is intended to complement the book Patch Testing and Prick Testing: A Practical Guide by J.-M. Lachapelle and H. Maibach, which is an official publication of the ICDRG now in its third edition. Among the wide variety of topics covered are pitfalls, legal aspec...

Behçet's syndrome can reasonably be considered a unique entity among diseases of the immune system for several reasons: It has specific features and, uniquely among the immune system pathologies, represents a link between autoimmune diseases, systemic vasculitis, and autoinflammatory diseases. In addition, it is of interest to a variety of specialists, including immunologists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists, and requires a complex multidisciplinary approach. Many asp...

The induction of immune responses against tumor cells by vaccination is rapidly evolving as a therapeutic modality with new potentials for the treatment of cancer. It is based on the fact that our immune system can identify tumor cells and, once activated, is capable of developing specific immunity against the neoplastic cells. Numerous observations and intense research clearly document the major contribution of the immune system to the prevention of cancer. And there are many re ports of ...

The antiphospholipid syndrome (Hughes syndrome) is now over a quarter of a century old. Although most of the major clinical features were described in the original papers between 1983 and 1985, the ensuing 25 years have seen a filling out of the clinical detail and recognition that the syndrome is of major medical importance. More significantly, much has been learnt of the prevalence and epidemiology of the syndrome as well as the biology of the thrombotic process so central to the conditi...

The burden of cutaneous drug reactions is significant, in both outpatient and inpatient settings, and can result in morbidity and even mortality. This book is unique in its approach to this problem. This text is divided into basic principles, common drug reactions, skin conditions mimicked by drug reactions, drug reactions to the skin appendages, life-threatening drug reactions, less common drug reactions, and special groupings of drug reactions. For the clinician, the skin can only morpho...

Recent progress in the fields of pharmacology and immunology has provided us with new possibilities for treating dermatological diseases. This book reviews the most important immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory drugs and gives helpful, practical information on the treatment of various dermatoses.

Infertility is defned as the inability to conceive after having unprotected intercourse for a year. Infertility is increasing worldwide and has various causes both in the male and the female partner. Immune reactions to sperm can contribute up to 2–30% of infertility. The sperm has both autoantigenic as well as isoantigenic potential, and is thus capable of p- ducing antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and sperm-reactive T cells in both infertile men and women. Also, over 75% vasectomized men prod...

Combined with the second book of this mini-series "Management of Positive Patch Test Reactions", the text gives a comprehensive account on all matters involved when treating patients with allergic skin problems. It is intended to be a cook book for daily dermatological practise. It provides an updated standardized version on patch testing and prick testing procedures. The different techniques, the visual scoring and the pitfalls interpreting positive and/or negative results are covered in ...

This well-illustrated quick reference book, now in its second edition, is a comprehensive guide to the aquatic skin diseases caused by biotic and non-biotic noxae. It will assist the dermatologist in recognizing and treating a host of unfamiliar conditions that are nevertheless steadily increasing in prevalence owing to wider use of the hydrosphere for holiday, sport, and occupational activities throughout the year. Beyond the thorough examination of the dermatoses caused by a wide range o...

This updated volume provides a “user-friendly” reference for dermatologists, dermatology residents and students, as well as for health care workers in related fields to better understand immune-mediated skin diseases and their therapies.The focus is on what is needed by the physician/resident or student for betting understanding the pathophysiology of the disease as well as the mechanisms of action of the therapies. The reader can easily read about groups of related diseases as wel...

Filaggrin gene mutations are common in Europeans and their descendants, as well as in Asians, reaching a prevalence of up to 10%. Filaggrin proteins are crucial for skin homeostasis as their metabolites maintain skin hydration, keep the skin pH low, and provide protection against solar radiation. FLG mutation carriers suffer from dry and scaly skin and have an increased transfer of allergens and chemicals across the epidermis. Moreover, they have 10% higher serum vitamin D levels, potentia...