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Contact sensitivity in patients with venous leg ulcers in Serbia: comparison with contact dermatitis patients and relationship to ulcer duration
Author(s) -
Jankićević Jasmina,
Vesić Sonja,
Vukićević Jelica,
Gajić Miodrag,
Adamič Metka,
Pavlović Miloš D.
Publication year - 2008
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/j.1600-0536.2007.01253.x
Subject(s) - medicine , contact dermatitis , allergen , sensitization , dermatology , allergy , allergic contact dermatitis , population , patch test , surgery , immunology , environmental health
Background: Contact hypersensitivity is a common occurrence in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (CVLU) with allergen profiles depending upon the local treatment policies. Objective: This study was to determine the frequency of contact sensitivity, prevalence of individual allergens, polyvalent sensitization, and/or their relationship to ulcers duration in the population of CVLU and contact dermatitis patients in Serbia. Patients: 75 patients with CVLU and 82 patients with clinically suspected contact dermatitis were prospectively included in the study. The patients were patch tested with a series of 21 standard and 22 supplemental allergens. Results: 73% ( n = 55) of CVLU and 52% ( n = 43) of control subjects had 1 or more positive patch test results ( P < 0.01). Polysensitization was found in 53% of patients and 21% of controls ( P < 0.01). CVLU patients run 2.5 and 4.3 higher risk for contact sensitization and polysensitization, respectively. The most common allergens were Balsam of Peru (21.3%), carba mix (18.7%), fusidic acid (17.3%), colophony (13.3%), paraben mix (12%), chloramphenicol (12%), silver nitrate (12%), and neomycin (10.7%). Polivalent sensitization and higher mean number of allergens were associated with ulcer duration >5 years. Conclusions: The results confirm a high rate of contact (poly)sensitization in patients with CVLU and local variability in allergen prevalence.