Atopy
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2008-06-25T16:21:45Z
Arcadian
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{{Infobox_Disease |
Name = {{PAGENAME}} |
Image = Eczema-arms.jpg |
Caption = Eczema—a typical atopic manifestation |
DiseasesDB = 34489 |
ICD10 = {{ICD10|L|20||l|20}} |
ICD9 = {{ICD9|691}} |
ICDO = |
OMIM = 147050 |
MedlinePlus = |
eMedicineSubj = |
eMedicineTopic = |
MeshID = |
}}
{{otheruses4|Atopy (Medicine)|Atopy (Philosophy)|Atopy (Philosophy)}}
'''Atopy''' ({{IPA|/ˈætəpi/}}; [[Greek language|Greek]] ''ατοπία'' - placelessness) or '''atopic syndrome''' is an allergic [[hypersensitivity]]<ref name="urlDorlands Medical Dictionary:atopy">{{cite web |url=http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/one/000010034.htm |title=Dorlands Medical Dictionary:atopy |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> affecting parts of the body not in direct contact with the [[allergen]].
==Causes==
It may involve [[eczema]] ([[atopic dermatitis]]), [[allergic conjunctivitis]], [[allergic rhinitis]] and [[asthma]]. There appears to be a strong [[genetic disorder|hereditary component]]. One study concludes that "the general risk of developing atopic dermatitis (3%) and atopy (7%) increases by a factor of two with each first-degree family member already suffering from atopy"
<ref>
{{cite journal
| coauthors = W. Küster , M. Petersen, E. Christophers, M. Goos and W. Sterry
| title = A family study of atopic dermatitis
| journal = Archives of Dermatological Research
| volume = 282
| issue = Number 2 / January, 1990
| pages = 98–102
| publisher =Springer Berlin / Heidelberg
| date =Sunday, December 12, 2004
| doi = 10.1007/BF00493466
| accessdate =
| author = Küster, W.}}</ref>.
The hereditary component is presumably due to certain genes coding proteins involved in the normal immune response mechanism, i.e., [[human leukocyte antigen]], although environmental factors have also been implicated. Atopic syndrome can be fatal for those who experience serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, brought on by reactions to food or environment.
The individual components are all caused at least in part by [[allergy]] (type I hypersensitivity reactions). These responses appear after the body is exposed to various allergens, for example specific kinds of food, [[pollen]], [[dander]] or [[insect venom]]s. Although atopy has various definitions, most consistently it is defined by the presence of elevated levels of total and allergen-specific [[IgE]] in the [[blood plasma|serum]] of patient, leading to positive skin-prick tests to common allergens.
The multicenter [[PARSIFAL study]] in [[2006]], involving 6630 children age 5 to 13 in 5 European countries, suggested that restrictive use of [[antibiotic]]s and [[antipyretic]]s, are associated with a reduced risk of allergic disease in children.<ref>Flöistrup, H., Swartz, J., Bergström, A., Alm, J. S., Scheynius, A., et al. (2006). Allergic disease and sensitization in Steiner school children. ''The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology'', '''117'''(1), 59-66. PMID 16387585 [http://www.louisbolk.nl/downloads/mhuber/0601allergic.pdf Reprint copy]</ref>
==Symptoms==
Some symptoms, from an atopy questionnaire<ref>{{Note_label|atopyqa|1|none}}[http://web.archive.org/web/20050904174102/http://www.dermis.net/cgi-bin/atopiefrage/erster-e.asp Erlanger Atopy Questionnaire, original site offline, Internet Archive cache, due to be reposted at http://eczema.dermis.net/content/e06question/index_eng.html]</ref>:
* Cracks in the skin under the [[earlobe]]
* Eczema
** In elbow flexures and/or hollow of the knees
** Nipple eczema
** [[Neurodermatitis]]
** Subtype [[Dyshidrosis]]
* [[Keratosis pilaris]]
* [[Perlèche]]
* [[Conjunctivitis]]
* Chronic or seasonal [[rhinitis]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/asthma/ Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM): Environmental Triggers of Asthma] – Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[[Category:Immune system disorders]]
{{immunology-stub}}
{{Immune disorders}}
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