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Atopic hand eczema and filaggrin mutations: A productive association

A revised classification has been proposed for subclustering atopic hand eczema patients, based on the latest research on coincident atopic hand eczema and filaggrin loss-of-function mutations. Two polymorphisms in the filaggrin gene, R501X and 2282del4, are associated with loss of function of the filaggrin protein, impairing its essential function of aggregating keratin filaments, thus resulting in skin barrier deficiency. These mutations are also the most strongly associated genetic factors for atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis, while being the most frequent risk factor for developing hand eczema, has also been suggested as the basic phenotype linked to the filaggrin mutations. The possibility therefore arises of subgrouping patients with atopic hand eczema into those with ...