A highly significant reduction in the perforin (Perf)-granule system of cytotoxic lymphocytes involved in the control of IgE has previously been demonstrated in patients with extrinsic atopic dermatitis (AD). The possibility of a functional role of Perf-granule hyper-releasability in AD immunopathology was recently addressed in patients with exacerbated AD (n = 50). The study found a correlation between the rate of Perf-granule release and total serum IgE levels (faster Perf-granule release was associated with higher total serum IgE). Suberythrodermic AD patients displayed a faster rate of Perf-granule release compared to less severely affected AD patients (p < 0.05). Perf-granule release velocity was also found to significantly correlate with the Perf+ portion ...