The Allergic Eczema-like Reaction and the Primary Irritant Reaction

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

“…This theory has been supported by a number of recent experimental studies [3,5,6,7,11,17]. U nfortunately, all but one [5] have been on guinea pigs, animals which do not vesiculate as men do, when devel oping an allergic contact reaction [3]. The alternate to this theory of inflamm atory cell invasion beginning the allergic contact reaction is the early and traditional view, championed by Civatte [4], th at the first alteration begins with focal edema formation in the epidermis, and th at the round cell infiltration of the dermis and epidermis follows as a later secondary event.…”

“…Is it extravasation of antibody-bearing inflamm atory mononuclear cells into the dermis, with their resultant invasion of the epidermis leading to the epidermal changes as suggested by Miescher [12] ? This theory has been supported by a number of recent experimental studies [3,5,6,7,11,17]. U nfortunately, all but one [5] have been on guinea pigs, animals which do not vesiculate as men do, when devel oping an allergic contact reaction [3].…”

“…U nfortunately most of the studies have been on guinea pigs instead of hum ans. Although guinea pigs readily develop allergic contact derm atitis, their reaction is somewhat different from th a t seen in humans in th a t guinea pig epidermis does not vesiculate with contact derm atitis unless the anim al's skin is made acanthotic beforehand [3], Combined with routine histologic examination, electron microscopic study of the early changes seen in allergic contact derm atitis has ob vious advantages in helping to answer these questions. Twro such studies have been reported [7,19].…”