Oppenheim, moritz

(¤ 1876, † October 27, 1949 Chicago, Illinois, USA) Austrian dermatologist; born in Vienna, where he completed his schooling and studies; received his doctorate (Dr. med. univ.) in 1899. First professional training with Salamon Ehrmann. Later, further dermatological training took place at the second university dermatology clinic under Isidor Neumann and his successor Ernest Finger.

In 1906 Moritz Oppenheim habilitated at the University of Vienna in dermatology and syphilidology (tit. ao. Prof. 1915, ao. Prof. 1926). In 1918 he was appointed primary physician of the dermatological department at the Wilhelminenspital. With Rudolf Müller he described the complement fixation reaction named after them for the detection of gonorrhea. Numerous diseases are associated with the name of Oppenheim: Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, Vaselinoderm, Pellagroid and others.

Then the "end" of the academic career. Oppenheim had to leave Vienna during the National Socialist regime. He found a new home in the USA. At the University of Chicago he received a lectureship in dermatology. In 1949, four months before his death, he was awarded a golden doctorate from the University of Vienna on the occasion of his 50th doctoral anniversary.

Oppenheim first described necrobiosis lipoidica in 1929.

1. Oppenheim M (1929) Peculiar disseminated degeneration of connective tissue in a diabetic. Zentralbl Haut- und Geschlechtskrankh (Berlin) 32: 179
2. Oppenheim M (1932) An as yet undescribed skin disease in diabetess mellitus (dermatitis atrophicans lipoides diabetica). Wiener klin Wochenschr 45: 314-315