title: [Results and assessment of photopatch testing in Spain: towards a new standard set of photoallergens].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the standardization of exploration with photoallergy tests or photopatch testing runs its course in Europe, we have carried out an epidemiological study about the current situation of photoallergy in our country.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have gathered the results of photopatch testing in seven hospital centres of Madrid, Cataluña, Galicia and Comunidad Valenciana during the years 2004 and 2005. The exploration has included, at least, the standard set of the Spanish Photobiology Group (GEF), with 16 (photo) allergens, that have been irradiated with 10 joules/cm(2). We have assessed the total number of explored patients, their sex, present, past or unknown relevance of positive photopatch testing, cross reactions, and allergens responsible for photosensitization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 224 patients explored by photopatch testing, 39.3 % show one or more positive tests. Seventy-one percent (103) were considered relevant with respect to clinical history, 14 cases (9.6 %) were cross reactions, and 28 (19.3 %) were considered of unknown relevance. The most prevalent allergens were nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, specially ketoprophen (43 patients), followed by bencydamine (7 patients) and etofenamate (5 patients). The mixture of four sunscreens from the standard set of the GEF only detected 10 of 16 patients with photoallergy to sunscreens. Photopatch testing of unknown relevance was mainly due to antiseptics (fenticlor) and topical antihistamines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose the modification of the standard set of photoallergens from the GEF, that should include the majority of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and sunscreens available in Spain. Ketoprophen continues to be the most frequent photoallergen in our country. It is also important for the cross sensitizations that may present. Sunscreens should be explored separately and not in form of a mixture.
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Dermatología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España. jesusdelacuadra@aedv.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Cuadra-Oyanguren
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ferriols
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecha-Carrelero
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giménez-Arnau
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernández-Redondo
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ortiz de Frutos
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silvestre-Salvador
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serra-Baldrich
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000528:radiation effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003429:Cross Reactions; D017454:Dermatitis, Photoallergic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010777:Photochemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D007660:Ketoprofen