title: Lymphocyte proliferation testing in chromium allergic contact dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphocyte proliferation testing (LPT) has some advantages over patch testing to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. It is harmless, objective and can be used in clinical situations where patch testing is not recommended. Unfortunately, significant success has only been achieved with nickel. There are few studies on chromium LPT and they were performed with different methods, leading to inconsistent results.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the best parameters for chromium LPT, we tested 20 patients with allergic contact dermatitis to the metal and 20 controls, using various protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best sensitivity and specificity ratios were achieved with 6-day cultures stimulated with a range from 7.5 x 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3) mol/L of nonfiltered chromium chloride solutions. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values found within this range were 65%, 95% and 80%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further investigation is necessary to achieve better sensitivity values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. hd330@yahoo.com
authors.forename: L E A M
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: A J Da Silva
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogusuku
authors.forename: V M S
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium