[Treatment of atopic dermatitis]

The authors give a survey of the treatment of atopic dermatitis with respect to its extent and severity. Our knowledge about the immunopathology of the disease altered during the past years and thus it was possible to use new medicines. The most important one among them is Cyclosporin A, which is a selective immunosuppressive drug. It effectively decreases the symptoms of atopic dermatitis by blocking T cells which were already activated. Because of the serious side-effects of Cyclosporin A (nephrotoxicity, hypertension) it can only be applied when no other local or systemic treatment proves to be effective. Even a short application of the medicine improves not only the quality of patient's life but also the long-term outcome of the disease.