title: Contact sensitization to the allergens of European baseline series in patients with chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pattern of contact sensitization among patients with chronic leg ulcers depends on the local practice of wound treatment along with demographic and clinical confounders. The study was aimed at revealing the associations between chronic leg ulcers and contact sensitization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2008, 35 patients with chronic leg ulcers and surrounding dermatitis and 59 patients with contact dermatitis of the lower leg or foot were prospectively recruited at the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Demographic and clinical data were collected in accordance with the "minimal data set" of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy. Patch testing was performed with the allergens of the European baseline series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one positive patch test reaction was found in 28 (80%) of the patients with chronic leg ulcers and in 24 (41%) of the patients with dermatitis of the lower leg or foot (P<0.001). Sensitization to some of the most common allergens, namely colophony, Myroxylon pereirae resin, and methyldibromo glutaronitrile, was prevalent in both the groups of patients, whereas sensitization to benzocaine, p-phenylenediamine, and lanolin alcohol was associated with the presence of chronic leg ulcers. Benzocaine was found to be the leading allergen among patients with chronic leg ulcers (positive patch test reactions in 34.4% of the patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact sensitization to benzocaine, p-phenylenediamine, and lanolin was found to be associated with the presence of chronic leg ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, 50028 Kaunas, Lithuania. aiste@asb.lt
authors.forename: Aistė
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beliauskienė
authors.forename: Skaidra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiukevičienė
authors.forename: Brigita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sitkauskienė
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnuch
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001566:Benzocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007809:Lanolin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010655:Phenylenediamines; D007809:Lanolin; D001566:Benzocaine; C029728:4-phenylenediamine