Standard Epicutaneous Tests in Ambulatory Patients of the Dermatovenerological Clinic

Summary

Background.
Allergic diseases have a rising trend worldwide. Allergic contact eczema is the most frequentoccupational disease. The spectrum of allergens is influenced by a number of factors. The basic method for detectionof contact allergy and detection of the allergen are epicutaneous tests. The objective of the work was to evaluate theresults of these tests in patients with contact dermatitis.Methods and Results. A total of 437 patients were tested (163 men, 274 women). For testing an extended standardset of medicamentous and non-medicamentous allergens was used. In women more often positive reactions wereobtained (39.5 %) than men (27.5 %). The mean age of women was 40 years, that of men 47 years. Both groupsresponded on average to 1.6 and 1.7 allergens resp. The most frequent allergen in women was nickel (17.9 %) inmen chromium (12.9 %). Other frequent allergens in women included chromium (11.3 %), Peru balsam (3.6 %),HgCl 2 and cobalt. In men it was nickel, cobalt (6.1 %) and HgCl 2 . Tere were also concurrent allergies. (The resultsare not statistically significant). In youngest age group the number of women was more than sevenfold: the mostfrequent allergen in this group was nickel. In the group of patients above 60 years of age women also predominated(2.5x): most frequently allergy to chromium was found (9.1 %). The allergic reaction to camomile and tar wassignificantly higher.Conclusions. The most frequent allergen in standard epicutaneous tests in women is nickel, in men chromium.Other frequent allergens are cobalt, mercury and Perubalsam. Women have a higher ratio of positive reactions, inthe group under 30 years women predominate 7x, in the whole group 2.4x.

Key words:
epicutaneous tests, allergens, nickel, chromium, cobalt, camomile, Peru balsam.