North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch-test results, 1998 to 2000.
BACKGROUND
Patch testing is the most worthwhile diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis.


OBJECTIVE
This study reports patch-testing results from July 1, 1998, to December 31, 2000, by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.


METHODS
Patients were tested with the same screening series of allergens, using a standardized patch-testing technique. The data from these patients were recorded on a standard computer entry form and analyzed.


RESULTS
Fifty allergens were tested on over 5,800 patients. Amidoamine, benzophenone-3, and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate were the new allergens. The top 10 allergens in frequency of positive reactions were identical to those of our 1996-to 1998-study period. The incidence of allergic nickel reactions continues to go up, leading all the test substances by 16.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings reinforce the need for a more comprehensive group of diagnostic allergens than is found in the T.R.U.E. TEST, which is sold in the United States.
Marks
James G
JG
Department of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Belsito
Donald V
DV
DeLeo
Vincent A
VA
Fowler
Joseph F
JF
Fransway
Anthony F
AF
Maibach
Howard I
HI
Mathias
C G Toby
CG
Pratt
Melanie D
MD
Rietschel
Robert L
RL
Sherertz
Elizabeth F
EF
Storrs
Frances J
FJ
Taylor
James S
JS
D000485:Allergens; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000485:Allergens