The purpose of this study is to determine whether immunoadsorption is effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis associated with excessively high serum IgE levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Atopical dermatitis
• Total serum IgE level above 5000 kU/l
• IGA score of 3 or above
• No sufficient response to topical corticosteroids/calcineurin inhibitors, UV therapy (at least 4 weeks of therapy), systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporin A (at least 8 weeks of therapy) or no possibility of a prolonged use of this therapy due to adverse events/contraindications
• 18 years of age or above
• Effective contraception during therapy
• Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unfavorable conditions for peripheral venous access
• Known hypersensitivity or allergy towards materials used in the adsorber columns
• Adequate anticoagulation not possible (e.g. multiple allergies towards various anticoagulants)
• Extreme bleeding tendency during anticoagulation
• Hypercoagulability
• Severe cardiovascular disease forbidding extracorporeal circulation
• Severe systemic infection
• Serum IgG level below 250 mg/dl
• Severe immunodeficiency (e.g. AIDS)
• Treatment with an ACE inhibitor (discontinue drug at least 72 h before treatment)
• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study (e.g. chronic alcoholism or mental dysfunction)