Nickel allergy and hand eczema--a 20-year follow up.
The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of hand eczema after 20 years in women patch tested to nickel during childhood. In 1982-1983, 960 schoolgirls were patch tested for nickel allergy; its prevalence was found to be 9%. 20 years later, the same individuals received a questionnaire regarding hand eczema and factors of importance for the development of hand eczema. 735 of 908 women (80.9%) answered the questionnaire. In total, 17.6% of respondents reported hand eczema after the age of 15 years, and the 1-year prevalence was 12.8%. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of hand eczema between the groups who had previously tested positive and negative for nickel allergy. 38.3% of the respondents considered themselves to be nickel sensitive at the time they answered the questionnaire; in this group, the reported prevalence of hand eczema after age 15 was 22.5%. 31.4% of those with a history of atopic dermatitis reported hand eczema after age 15, compared with 10.6% of those without (P < 0.001). In conclusion, contact allergy to nickel in childhood did not seem to increase the prevalence of hand eczema later in life.
Josefson
Anna
A
Department of Dermatology, Orebro University Hospital, 701 85 Orebro, Sweden. anna.josefson@orebroll.se
Färm
Gunilla
G
Stymne
Birgitta
B
Meding
Birgitta
B
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000485:Allergens; D009532:Nickel