EAACI Allergy School in Krakow
Dermatitis And Eczema
18 - 21 August 2011
Krakow, Poland
Organized by EAACI Dermatology Section
The EAACI Dermatology Allergy School, organized by EAACI Dermatology Section, Polish Society of Allergology and the Jagiellonian University Medical College, was held in Krakow, Poland. A total of 68 participants from 21 countries were selected based on the quality of their submitted abstracts and high intentions to improve knowledge about this fascinating topic. In addition to lectures given by the invited experts from Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Germany, Poland and other countries (professors Brunello Wuthrich, Jean-Francois Nicolas, Arnold Oranje, Thomas Werfel and many others covering both, practical and scientific aspects, at the highest level), 8 case studies as oral presentations and 10 abstracts in a free communication’s session were presented. This year’s school was dedicated to professor Sabina Chyrek-Borowska, a distinguished Polish allergist. Thanks to her initiative, one of the first EAACI Summer Allergy Schools took place in Bialystok, Poland 20-24 August 1999.Opening of the school started with the welcome address by Radoslaw Spiewak (LOC), Clive Grattan (chair of the EAACI Dermatology Section Board), Roman Nowicki (chair of the PTA Dermatology Section), Anna Wesolowska (the Dean’s Plenipotentiary for the Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University). The scientific start was given by professor Clive Grattan (UK) in the introductory lecture entitled with “Atopic dermatitis and urticaria: close partners or distant cousins?”. The first day was ended with the get-together party. In the following day morning session there were presentations and passionate discussions about the nomenclature of the dermatitis and eczema: are these synonyms or do they mean distinct entities? The terms „dermatitis” and “eczema” were considering and nomenclature, subtypes and natural course of atopic eczema have been analyzing. Lectures were given by professors Arnold Oranje (NL) (Synonims!), Ana-Gimenez-Arnau (ES) (Not Synonims!), Brunello Wuthrich (CH), Radoslaw Spiewak (PL) and Agnieszka Dorynska (PL). After the session the voting results of the audience revealed that most part of the participants thinks that these terms mean different subjects.
During two afternoon sessions selected dermatitis and eczema case studies were reported and discussed. The evening session, called simultaneous practical workshops, consisted of 3 subgroups. Each group of participants were discussing about the work-up of a child with eczema under the supervision of dr. Flora de Waard-van der Spek (NL), proactive treatment of atopic eczema given by professor Arnold Oranje (NL) and hands-on demonstration of patch testing, practicing on preparing patch tests and applying on live models with professor Radoslaw Spiewak (PL).
After the very active and informative workshops, the attendees were very appreciative of the social program which included the Krakow orientation sightseeing bus tour of Krakow‘s Old Town, Royal Castle, Old Jewish Quarter as well as the dinner in a traditional rustic Polish restaurant Chlopskie Jadlo (“Peasant food”).
On the third day after the morning session discussions about the mechanisms of dermatitis and eczema, specifically about the skin barrier and function of fillagrin, role of histamine, pathomechanisms of atopic eczema and allergic contact dermatitis, the role of food allergy, bacterial and fungal infections in infantile and in adult eczema presented by professors Cezary Kowalewki (PL), Antti Laurema (FI), Thomas Werfel (DE), Jean-Francois Nicolas (FR), Flora de Waard-van der Spek (NL), Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier (CH) and Roman Nowicki (PL), young participants had a great chance to present their works and discuss the results with the honored clinicians and scientists. During the mentioned free communications session, awards for best case reports (I.Equiluz-Gracia (ES) „Omalizumab for atopic dermatitis. Our clinical experience in eight patients“ and A.Grigorius, (PL) „The use of extended baseline series in patch testing increases the effectiveness of detection of contact allergy in patients with dermatitis“) and free communication (L. Hovhannisyan (AM) „Pro-inflammatory cytokines in posttraumatic stress disorder“) were announced.
The day was memorable also by the trip to the medieval salt mine of Wieliczka (UNESCO class 0 monument) walking through the underground passages and salt chambers with internal lakes, monuments and artefacts of salt.
On the last day the topics on diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of eczema and other related diseases, future perspectives and needs in dermatitis and eczema research were discussed by Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier (CH), Ana Gimenez-Arnau (ES), Cezary Kowalewski (PL), Vera Mahler (DE), Clive Grattan (UK), Brunello Wuthrich (CH), Radoslaw Spiewak (PL), Jean-Francois Nicolas (FR), Antti Laurema (FI) and Agniezska Dorynska (PL).
On behalf of all participants we would like to thank EAACI, GA2LEN and Polish Society of Allergologyfor their financial support, which made it feasible for junior applicants to attend this summer school as well as the Local Organizing Committee for their excellent organization, which turned this school into a great success.
Lilit Hovhannisyan
Official Representative of EAACI Dermatology Section,
Junior Members and Affiliates Working Group.
Laboratory of Macromolecular Complexes,
Institute of Molecular Biology of Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
Indre Butiene
Official Representative of EAACI Aerobiology and Pollution IG,
Junior Members and Affiliates Working Group.
Department of Pathology, Pharmacology and Forensic medicine,
Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Last updated 27 October 2014