STATISTICAL-ANALYSIS OF DIAGNOSTIC-CRITERIA OF ATOPIC ECZEMA

In a prospective study on atopic eczema (AE) several clinical basic and minor features, total IgE and Phadiatop test have been studied systematically and analysed statistically with regard to their diagnostic importance in patients with AE (n = 428) and a sample of the normal population (NP: n = 628). Our results clearly demonstrate that the evaluation of clinical atopic basic and minor features are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of AE. The statistical analysis of the traditional atopic symptoms and signs showed that some typical basic features have been found of minor importance because of their high frequency in control material, other minor features have emerged as important factors because of their high odds ratios. The diagnostic relevance of the family history of atopy depends on the intensity (as measured by the number of symptoms expressed in the parents) and on the different manifestations of atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma) in the first degree relatives. On the basis of statistical modelling of the 19 atopic features with the highest odds ratios a diagnostic score system was constructed. Based on this score system patients with more than 10 points should be considered atopic, patients with 7 to 9 points are suspicious of atopy. The proposed score system can be used in pre-employment examination as well as in the diagnose of ambigous eczema.