Molecular diagnosis of hand eczema

Abstract

Because hand eczema is adiagnostic challenge even for experienced dermatologists, acorrect diagnosis is essential to ensure success of specific therapies. Prerequisites for successful molecular diagnostics in general and in hand eczema in particular are discussed. Basic research and opinion statement on new developments in molecular diagnostics are considered with aspecial focus on hand eczema. The first molecular classifier to distinguish psoriasis from (hand) eczema signature has been introduced as CE-marked in vitro diagnostics (CE-IVD); many more biomarkers associated with diagnostics, theranostics, or natural course of the disease are currently being investigated. Diagnosis of hand eczema will be supported by molecular diagnostics in the near future; we are at the beginning of the molecular era in dermatology.