Meteorological conditions and the diagnosis of occupationally related contact sensitizations.
OBJECTIVE
An accurate diagnosis of (occupational) contact sensitization by patch testing is a prerequisite for efficient preventive management. However, previously observed seasonal fluctuations in patch-test reactions indicate some influence of meteorological conditions. The present analysis aims at quantifying the possible impact of temperature and humidity on patch-test reactions to occupationally related allergens.


METHODS
Clinical data from 61 780 patients tested with standard series allergens potentially related to occupational exposure from 1993 through 2001 were collected by a contact sensitization surveillance network.The association between the patch-test results and meteorological data (air temperature and humidity) collected at the time and the approximate location of the testing was analyzed in a multinomial logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
For three allergens (a dye and two biocides), the odds of irritant or doubtful allergic reactions increased during cold and arid conditions. Two of them (pphenylenediamine and formaldehyde) also showed an association between weak positive allergic reactions and such weather. In contrast, reactions to various adhesive, plastic, and rubber-related allergens were not associated with weather conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
An overall increase in skin irritation, brought on by cold and dry conditions, may instigate an increase in positive reactions by leading doubtful allergic reactions to be (falsely) categorized as allergic for at least two of the considered allergens. For the most part, however, weather conditions were not associated with reactions to occupational allergens. Thus the validity of patch testing does not largely seem to be compromised by ambient meteorological conditions.
Hegewald
Janice
J
Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstrasse 6, Erlangen, Germany. janice.hegewald@imbe.med.uni-erlangen.de
Uter
Wolfgang
W
Kränke
Birger
B
Schnuch
Axel
A
Pfahlberg
Annette
A
Gefeller
Olaf
O
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010328:Patch Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature