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.
Department of Dermatology, Hadassah University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem 91010, Israel. merims5@bezequint.net
Arieh
A
Ingber
Sharon
S
Merims
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