Seasonal influence on patch test results

Edman, Björn

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1989.tb04665.x

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Most previous seasonal patch test research focused on a potential inhibition of patch test reactions caused by UV exposure [4,5,6,7,8,9]. While UV exposure is known to protect the skin from contact dermatitis by suppressing the immune reaction and increasing the barrier function of the skin, 1 large study of UV exposure and patch test reactions found that patch test results were not associated with UV exposure [5].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Hegewald

Uter

Kränke

et al. 2008

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Background: Nickel, cobalt and chromium are some of the most common causes of type IV sensitizations and subsequent allergic contact dermatitis. Accurate diagnosis of contact sensitization to these metal salts is made possible through standardized patch testing; however, patch tests with metal allergens may be influenced by meteorological conditions at the time of testing. We aimed to investigate how patch test reactions to these metals relate to outdoor temperature and humidity at the time of testing. Methods: Clinical patch test results from 61,435 patients tested at Austrian and German dermatology departments participating in a contact sensitization surveillance network (www.ivdk.org) from 1993 through 2001 were evaluated with weather data measured near the testing location and at the time of testing. Test reactions and ambient temperature and humidity were examined with multinomial logistic regression models. Results: The odds of irritant and doubtful reactions to all 3 ionized metals increased during cold/arid conditions, and the odds of weak allergic (positive) reactions to nickel and cobalt also increased during cold/dry weather. Strong allergic reactions were essentially independent of weather conditions. Conclusions: The increase in irritant and doubtful reactions coinciding with decreasing temperature and humidity may be the result of an overall increase in skin irritation brought about by these ambient conditions. The observed increases in erythematous and infiltrated (‘weak allergic’) reactions may be due to doubtful reactions increasing in intensity and being (falsely) classified as positive during colder and drier conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies examining the seasonality of patch test reactions in very different climates report conflicting observations [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. However, a number of studies identify dry/cold meteorological conditions to be a risk factor for (experimental) skin irritation [12,13,14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Hegewald

Uter

Kränke

et al. 2008

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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“…Seasonal variation of patch test results has been described by a number of authors, in particular, a potential loss of positive reactions during summer has been postulated (1–3), at least for some allergens (4). A recent experimental study found that mice reacted more strongly to 2,4,6‐trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) if housed in low ambient humidity (5).…”

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confidence: 99%

Another look at seasonal variation in patch test results

et al. 2001

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There is conflicting evidence concerning seasonal variability of patch test results and no evidence concerning the influence of season on weak-positive, possibly false-positive, irritant reactions, which was analysed in the present study. Data collected in the German Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) 1992 to 1997 were combined with external environmental data on temperature and absolute humidity in Germany, and bivariate as well as logistic regression analyses performed concerning the association between reactivity to selected allergens and air temperature and absolute humidity on the respective days of patch testing. Between 39,239 and 41,629 patients had been tested with the 4 allergens considered here. Only formaldehyde exhibited a distinct increase in questionable or irritant as well as weak-positive reactions associated with dry, cold weather. Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone and lanolin alcohol showed only a weak, and epoxy resin no, association with climatic conditions. The results indicate that weak-positive reactions, at least to formaldehyde as a prototype of an allergen which is at the same time a marginal irritant, may sometimes be irritant rather than allergic. Patients showing these should be re-tested to improve the poor reproducibilty observed with this allergen.

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“…Hegewald et al (8)(9)(10)(11). In particular, the increase in skin irritability observed during cold or dry conditions demonstrates the susceptibility of the skin to environmental conditions (12)(13)(14).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%