Influence of Age on Patch Tests Results

Objective: To assess the influence of age on the patch-test results and to compare the profiles of skin sensitizers according to the age groups.\udMethods: It is an 8-year retrospective study involving entire medical records of the patients with allergic contact dermatitis at the Unity of Dermatology and Allergology in the Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Sousse in Tunisia. Study population was divided into two age groups (group 1: patients <40 years; group 2: patients >40 years). The statistical significance level was taken as p<0.05.\udResults: Among the patients, 586 have had at least one positive reaction to the patch-test. Older individuals were 1.1 times more likely to have at least one positive reaction to the patch-test than younger ones. The most common allergens in both groups are potassium dichromate (34.2% vs. 38%), thiuram mix (6% vs. 11%), cobalt chloride (27% vs. 28.8%), balsam of Peru (6% vs. 11.3%) and nickel sulphate (41% vs. 27.3%). A significant variation was noted for potassium dichromate in terms of intensity of skin reaction (p=0.00).\udConclusion: More research is needed to elucidate the physiologic mechanisms of age on the patch-test results and to adapt the European Standard Battery to each age group in term of allergen type and their appropriate concentration