[Current immunologic and functional research on the skin in occupational contact dermatitis]

Immunological and functional studies are performed on workers engaged in the production of plastics, artificial fibres and dyes, in view of clarifying some mechanisms in the evolution of the contact dermatitis and the related with it early changes. The study establishes increased values of IgA and IgG in workers in contact with irritating substances and increased values of IgG in workers in contact with sensitizing substances. In the latter is registered a decrease in the active and the total rosettes. The functional investigations, performed on 292 workers point out to no essential deviations in pH values in the limits of the physiological variability. The alkaline resistance of the skin is decreased in 51% of the examined, who are in contact with irritating substances and in 29.7% exposed mainly to sensitizing substances.