This diagnostic approach allowed us to identify a large group (47 patients) with UV. Most did not present the clinical (prolonged duration of weals and bruising) and laboratory features that have previously been described as characteristic of UV. Cinnarizine was found to be a valuable treatment option.

A case of cutaneous T cell lymphoma associated with mild autoimmune disorders were also ruled out. A diagnosis of eosinophilia and rise of IgE levels is reported. A population of CTCL was made and treatment with IFN-␣ was started (9 MU CD3 ؊ CD4 ؉ cells was observed in the peripheral blood. After × 3/week), but was stopped 2 months later due to lack of comactivation, these purified CD3 ؊ CD4 ؉ cells showed a Th2 pattern pliance without clinical benefit. Psoralene plus UV-A (P-UVA) of cytokine production, secreting higher levels of IL-5 and ILtherapy induced complete regression of the mycosis fungoides years.Keywords: Th2 cytokines, cutaneous T cell lymphoma;In September 1995, in spite of a normal blood lymphocytecount (1620/ l), two-colour immunophenotypical studies revealed a small CD3 − CD4 + T cell population (Table 1). Rare lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei were observed in the Introduction peripheral blood smears. Eosinophil count was 842/ l and total IgE level 2888 KU/l. A new cutaneous biopsy demonOver the last few years, it has become clear that human T cells strated a dense dermal infiltration by CD4 + CD7 − cells in part can be divided into distinct subsets according to the pattern of lacking TCR␤ expression, whereas a bone marrow biopsy cytokine production: Th1 cells secrete mainly IL-2 and intershowed only moderate eosinophilia. feron-␥, whereas Th2-cells produce IL-4 and IL-5. 1 The enriched CD3 − CD4 + population, obtained by depletion Recently, it has been suggested that cutaneous T cell lymof CD3 + cells from PBMC using magnetic beads, as described phoma (CTCL) represents clonal proliferation of Th2-cells. 2 elsewhere, 4 showed defective response to mitogens activating Moreover, two cases of clonal expansion of CD3 − CD4 + T the cells through crosslinking of membrane receptors (PHA cells, without clinical evidence of lymphoma, secreting Th2-and CD3), but proliferative response, and expression of actitype cytokines have been recently described. 3,4 We report vation markers such as CD69 and CD25, was partially here a new case of CTCL associated with a population of circulating CD3 − CD4 + cells with a Th2-pattern of cytokine production.

Immigrants develop multiple sensitisations more frequently than native-born people, and are especially sensitised to local allergens; the country of origin seems to play a role.

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