Atopic dermatitis

Cutaneous allergy encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical presentations with complex underlying immunological mechanisms. Allergy may be  considered to play a role in disorders that include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis and adverse drug reactions. The skin phenotypes associated with allergy are more commonly exhibited in non-allergic disease and so a high proportion of patients who consider themselves allergic in truth have other, nonallergic explanations for their presentation.

Genetics is a developing field that increasingly influences medical practice in a large number of specialties. This symposium highlighted how current research is providing insights into the genetic causes of disease, leading to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology and identification of potential novel treatment strategies. We were provided with an overview of developments in monogenic conditions such as Marfan’s syndrome and Duchenne muscular dystrophy and complex traits such as atopic dermatitis.