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History of international societies of contact dermatitis
Author(s) -
Schubert Hans
Publication year - 2010
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.1600-0536.2009.01678.x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , contact dermatitis , history , medicine , computer science , allergy , immunology
Dear Sir, In a recent article, D. R. Smith provided an overview of the history of international societies of contact dermatitis (1). However, this review did not include mention of activities within the CMEA countries. CMEA was the official abbreviation for the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance, otherwise known as COMECON. The Contact Dermatitis Research Group (CDRG) in CMEA countries was founded in 1976 in Warsaw (Poland) and consisted of the leading dermatologists interested in contact dermatitis, occupational and environmental dermatology within Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany), Hungary, Poland, and the Soviet Union. The main function of this group was planning of cooperative research in the field of contact allergy within the above mentioned countries. Good connections existed with governmental organizations and with International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) members. Interests of the CDRG included prevention of contact allergy, epidemiology, new allergens and irritants and standardization of testing. The CDRG was proud to be the host and organizer of the 7th International Symposium of Contact Dermatitis and Joint Meeting between ICDRG and CDRG in CMEA countries, arranged by the Section of Occupational Dermatology of the Dermatological Society of GDR, June 3–5, 1983, in Erfurt. After 1991 (collapse of European Communist governments) the CDRG disbanded and members joined the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD).