title: Detection of nickel sensitivity has increased in North American patch-test patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nickel allergy has been studied by contact dermatitis groups around the world, and the frequency of nickel sensitivity has been reported to be decreasing in some populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the prevalence of nickel allergy as observed by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 1992 to 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  The computer database of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group was used to examine the prevalence of nickel allergy over the study period and to analyze it by time, sex, and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1992 to 2004, 25,626 patients were patch-tested. The percentage of women tested was fairly constant (61.4-66.3%). A steady increase in nickel sensitivity was seen from 1992 to 2004. Subgroup analysis did not identify a population with declining nickel allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nickel allergy continues to increase in younger and older men and women patch-tested in North America.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rietschel
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Belsito
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: DeLeo
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: C G Toby
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sasseville
authors.forename: Frances J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Storrs
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zug
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009532:Nickel