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Patch testing with sodium disulfite: North American Contact Dermatitis Group experience, 2017 to 2018
Author(s) -
Warshaw Erin M.,
Buonomo Michele,
DeKoven Joel G.,
Atwater Amber R.,
Reeder Margo J.,
Belsito Donald V.,
Silverberg Jonathan I.,
Taylor James S.,
Maibach Howard I.,
Zug Kathryn A.,
Sasseville Denis,
Fowler Joseph F.,
Pratt Melanie D.,
DeLeo Vincent A.,
Zirwas Matt J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/cod.13860
Subject(s) - confidence interval , medicine , patch test , contact dermatitis , odds ratio , dermatology , allergic contact dermatitis , sodium metabisulfite , patch testing , irritant contact dermatitis , retrospective cohort study , surgery , allergy , immunology , food science , chemistry
Background Sodium disulfite (SD), also known as sodium metabisulfite, is an increasingly recognized cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Objectives The objective of this work was to characterize individuals with positive patch test reactions to SD as well as analyse reaction strength, clinical relevance, and sources. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of patients patch tested with SD (1% petrolatum) by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), 2017 to 2018. Results Of 4885 patients patch tested with SD, 132 (2.7%) had a positive reaction. Common primary anatomic sites of dermatitis were face (28.8%), hands (20.5%), and a scattered/generalized distribution (13.6%). Compared with SD‐negative patients, SD‐positive patients were more likely male (odds ratio 2.81, 95% confidence interval 1.98‐4.00) and/or over 40 years (odds ratio 1.95, 95% confidence interval 1.30‐2.94). Reactions were most commonly + (50.4%) or ++ (34.1%); 65.2% were considered currently relevant. About 15.2% were definitively confirmed in sources, commonly personal care products (18.9%, especially hair dye), and drugs/medications/alcoholic beverages (9.1%). Only 2.3% of positive reactions were linked to occupation. Conclusions Positive reactions to SD occurred in 2.7% of tested patients. Reactions were often clinically relevant and linked to personal care products and drugs/medications/alcoholic beverages.