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The European baseline series in 10 European Countries, 2005/2006 – Results of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA)
Author(s) -
Uter Wolfgang,
Rämsch Christiane,
Aberer Werner,
Ayala Fabio,
Balato Anna,
Beliauskiene Aiste,
Fortina Anna Belloni,
Bircher Andreas,
Brasch Jochen,
Chowdhury Mahbub M. U.,
Coenraads PieterJan,
Schuttelaar MarieLouise,
Cooper Sue,
Corradin Maria Teresa,
Elsner Peter,
English John S. C.,
Fartasch Manigè,
Mahler Vera,
Frosch Peter J.,
Fuchs Thomas,
Gawkrodger David J.,
GimènezArnau AnaMaria,
Green Cathy M.,
Horne Helen L.,
Jolanki Riitta,
King Codagh M.,
Krêcisz Beata,
KiecSwierczynska Marta,
Ormerod Anthony D.,
Orton David I.,
Peserico Andrea,
Rantanen Tapio,
Rustemeyer Thomas,
Sansom Jane E.,
Simon Dagmar,
Statham Barry N.,
Wilkinson Mark,
Schnuch Axel
Publication year - 2009
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.1600-0536.2009.01572.x
Subject(s) - contact allergy , allergy , patch test , medicine , allergen , european union , european standard , patch testing , contact dermatitis , environmental health , european region , dermatology , demography , geography , immunology , engineering , architectural engineering , business , economic policy , regional science , sociology
Background: Continual surveillance based on patch test results has proved useful for the identification of contact allergy. Objectives: To provide a current view on the spectrum of contact allergy to important sensitizers across Europe. Patients/Methods: Clinical and patch test data of 19 793 patients patch tested in 2005/2006 in the 31 participating departments from 10 European countries (the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies' (ESSCA) www.essca‐dc.org ) were descriptively analysed, aggregated to four European regions. Results: Nickel sulfate remains the most common allergen with standardized prevalences ranging from 19.7% (central Europe) to 24.4% (southern Europe). While a number of allergens shows limited variation across the four regions, such as Myroxylon pereirae (5.3–6.8%), cobalt chloride (6.2–8.8%) or thiuram mix (1.7–2.4%), the differences observed with other allergens may hint on underlying differences in exposures, for example: dichromate 2.4% in the UK (west) versus 4.5–5.9% in the remaining EU regions, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone 4.1% in the South versus 2.1–2.7% in the remaining regions. Conclusions: Notwithstanding residual methodological variation (affecting at least some ‘difficult’ allergens) tackled by ongoing efforts for standardization, a comparative analysis as presented provides (i) a broad overview on contact allergy frequencies and (ii) interesting starting points for further, in‐depth investigation.