title: In pursuit of defining clinical relevance of positive patch tests results.
abstract: According to the current classification of clinical relevance of the positive patch test reactions, the positive results of patients who are allergic to various allergens that are not responsible for the present dermatitis do not fit into the category of "relevant to present dermatitis" but should be defined as "relevant to a preceding bout of dermatitis." This seems to us inappropriate and misleading because reexposure to the sensitizing agent would quickly revert their reaction to "relevant to present dermatitis." We suggest an alternative possibility to the current division of the various types of clinical relevance, namely, "relevance to a present allergy other than the presenting dermatitis."
authors.affiliation: The Dermatology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rechovot 76100, Israel. wolf_r@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Ronni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Batya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davidovici
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tuzun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens