[Clinical and immune-modulating effects of the treatment with unsaturated fatty acids in atopic dermatitis]

The metabolism of essential unsaturated fatty acids seems to show changes in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). A defect or a deficiency of a Delta-6-Desaturase, which transforms cis-linoleic acid into gamma-linolenic-acid will be discussed. We examined the influence of a treatment with unsaturated fatty acids on clinical phenotype and the surface antigens of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Prolonged recurrence free intervals as well as a faster ability to control relapse were established. Dysbalance in the lymphocytic system was able to be positively influenced. We found an increase of Leu 2 a-antigen carrying T-suppressor-lymphocytes and of the Leu 3+8+- antigen carrying subpopulation of T-helper-lymphocytes, which are responsible for activation of precursor T-suppressor cells into.