title: Chromated metal products may be hazardous to patients with chromate allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hidden allergen exposure may contribute to persistence and relapse of chromate dermatitis. According to case reports, chromated metal products, such as screws, fittings, etc., may be relevant allergen sources for patients sensitized to chromate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine concomitant patch test reactivity to potassium dichromate 0.5% petrolatum (pet.) and three different types of chromated metal rings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with proven or suspected chromate allergy were patch tested with potassium dichromate 0.5% pet. and three different types of chromated metal rings (yellow, olive, and black). Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) release from the patch tested rings was chemically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five patients were tested: 49/95 (52%) reacted to potassium dichromate and 25/95 (26%) reacted to black chromated rings. Reactions to chromated rings exclusively occurred in patients reacting to potassium dichromate. Of 20 patients with a strong reaction to potassium dichromate, 14 reacted to black chromated rings. These were shown to have a high Cr(VI) release. Only two patients reacted to the other chromated rings, which had a very low Cr(VI) release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Handling chromated metal products must be regarded a hazard to chromate-sensitive patients, in particular those with a strong sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. jgeier@ivdk.org
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lessmann
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellweg
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jappe
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spornraft-Ragaller
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Aberer
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Frosch
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skudlik
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szliska
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pföhler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lilie
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trcka
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adam