title: Eyelid dermatitis: an evaluation of 447 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eyelids can be affected by various types of dermatitis that are often difficult to diagnose.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to establish some guidelines for a correct diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 447 patients treated at 12 research units for eczema or other inflammatory dermatitis located on the eyelids were invited to complete a questionnaire. When necessary, patch tests with haptens of the standard series from Gruppo Italiano di Ricerca sulle Dermatiti da Contatto e Ambientali della Società Italiana di Dermatologia e Venereologia (SIDEV-GIRDCA) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the subjects studied, 50.2 % were diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD); 20.9% were affected by irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), 13.5% by atopic dermatitis, 6.3% by seborrheic dermatitis, 6.5% by aspecific xerotic dermatitis, and 2.3% by psoriasis. Approximately 91% of all subjects reported an absence of familial atopy. A significant statistical association between diagnosis type and a personal history of atopy was evident (p <.000001, chi-square test). The results of gradual logistic regression models showed four-eyelid involvement as the main risk factor for ACD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-8.1); with ICD, the main risk factor was the onset of symptoms at between 2 and 6 months (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.0), whereas for atopic dermatitis, the main risk factors were the onset of symptoms later than 6 months and a personal history of atopy (OR = 4.9 and 3.6, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that many characteristics of the patients examined can be used for the differential diagnosis of palpebral eczematous dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartmento di Dermatologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. ayala@unina.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbrocini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bacchilega
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berardesca
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caraffini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Flori
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francalanci
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guarrera
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Baldassarre
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schena
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suppa
authors.forename: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: Colombina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincenzi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005143:Eyelids; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens