Medica Jadertina, Vol. 36 No. 3-4, 2006.
Professional paper
Nickel allergy frequency in a ten-year period in Karlovac County
Ilko Kuljanac
Eva Knežević
Hrvoje Cvitanović
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nickel sulfate as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis.
We revised the clinical records of out-coming patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and atopic dermatitis (AD) clinical diagnosis at the Department of Dermatology and Venerology of Karlovac
General Hospital during the 1994–2005 study period. There were 2828 patients, f: 2033 (71.9%), m: 795 (28.1%) ranging from 7-81, mean age 36. The epicutaneous patch test with 5% nickel sulfate (Institute of Immunology, Zagreb, Croatia) was done. Out of all patients (2828), 373 (13.1%) showed positive epicutaneous patch test reaction to nickel sulphate. Taking into consideration gender, out of all female patients, the nickel positive patch test was recorded in 11.7% patients, while the result in the males was 1.4%. A statistical difference between positive results in females and males was significant (p < 0.05).
In order to determine the importance of atopic constitution in nickel sensitivity, patients were divided into two groups: 1. Patients with ACD: 2513 patients, f: 1806 (71.8%), m: 707 (28.2%), ranging from 8-81, mean age: 39.2, 2. Patients with AD (according to Hanifin and Rajka criteria, 1982 (5): 315 patients, f: 227 (72.1%), m: 88 patients (27.9%), ranging from 7-78, mean age: 36.3.
ACD patients in the first group resulted in 332 positive tests (13.2%), while in the second group (atopic patients) 41 resulted positive (13.0%). The difference is not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
It is concluded that nickel is the most frequent allergen which affects the younger female.
Atopic constitution does not have any influence on nickel sensitivity. It is equally frequent in persons with and without atopic constitution.
Keywords
nickel allergy; epicutaneous test; allergic contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis
Hrčak ID:
12536
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2007.
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