The validity of the Mathias criteria for establishing occupational causation and aggravation of contact dermatitis.
Mathias proposed 7 criteria for establishing occupational causation and aggravation of contact dermatitis (Mathias, J Am Acad Dermatol 1989, 20, 842-848). 4 of the 7 criteria must be positive to conclude occupational dermatitis. In order to evaluate the validity of these criteria, we re-examined 19 patients (17 male and 2 female) with contact dermatitis, who had given a positive answer to at least 4 of the criteria and had either exchanged their workplace or stopped working. We re-evaluated them, 2-5 years later, for the presence of contact dermatitis. 14 of 19 patients (74%) reported that their dermatitis had cleared after they had left their previous workplace. Only 5 patients still suffered from dermatitis, 2-5 years later. 3 of these 5 patients could have been exposed to the causative allergens in their new workplace. We conclude that the Mathias criteria are useful to assess occupational contact dermatitis.
Ingber
Arieh
A
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem 91010, Israel. merims5@bezequint.net
Merims
Sharon
S
D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results