Allergic contact dermatitis to metal allergens in Iran. (14th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khatami, Alireza; Nassiri‐Kashani, Mansour; Gorouhi, Farzam; Babakoohi, Shahab; Kazerouni‐Timsar, Ali; Davari, Parastoo; Sarraf‐Yazdy, Maryam; Dowlati, Yahya; Firooz, Alireza
• Is Part Of: International journal of dermatology. Volume 52:Number 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1513
• Page End: 1518
• Publication Date: 2013-03-14
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05623.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-9059

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background </bold> Metallic allergens such as nickel are among the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), but frequencies of contact dermatitis to these allergens may vary in different areas.</p> <p> <bold>Objectives </bold> This study aimed to determine the frequencies of ACD caused by three common metallic allergens: nickel sulfate; potassium dichromate; and cobalt chloride.</p> <p> <bold>Methods </bold> Data for 1137 patients with clinical diagnoses of contact dermatitis and/or atopic dermatitis evaluated by patch testing in Iran during a 5‐year period were retrospectively studied to establish the frequencies of hypersensitivity to these metallic allergens.</p> <p> <bold>Results </bold> A total of 313 patients (27.5%) gave positive patch test results for at least one metallic allergen. Allergy to nickel (229 cases, 20.0%) was the most commonly observed, followed by allergy to cobalt (90 cases, 8.0%) and allergy to chromium (70 cases, 6.2%). Nickel allergy was significantly more frequent in females and in subjects aged <40 years, whereas chromium hypersensitivity was more common in males and in subjects aged >40 years. Sensitivity to nickel or chromium was a risk factor for cobalt allergy.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions </bold> Nickel was most commonly identified as a metallic allergen in Iran and tended to affect women aged <40 years. Regulations pertaining to nickel release may decrease the frequency of nickel hypersensitivity in Iran.</p> </abstract>