title: Nickel, chromium and cobalt sensitization in a patch test population in north-eastern Italy (1996-2010).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensitization to nickel, cobalt and chromium is frequent in patch test populations. The prevalence is affected by geographical and socio-cultural factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the temporal trend of nickel, cobalt and chromium contact sensitization between 1996 and 2010 in north-eastern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen thousand and eighty-eight patients (67.2% women and 32.8% men) with suspected allergic dermatitis underwent patch testing with the European baseline series. The associations between nickel, cobalt and chromium sensitization and patient age (in quintiles) and year of patch testing were investigated by means of multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of nickel sensitization decreased significantly among younger women (≤26 years), from 38.3% (1996-1998) to 31.9% (2002-2004), 28.3% (2005-2007) and 29.0% (2008-2010), whereas an increase was observed in the 36-45-year and 46-58-year age groups. The overall prevalence of chromium sensitization dropped from 10.2% (1996-1998) to 4.6% (2008-2010) among women, and from 11.3% (1996-1998) to 5.9% (2008-2010) among men. The prevalence of cobalt sensitization increased among younger men (≤26 years), from 2.7% (1996-1998) to 7.3% (1999-2001), 9.6% (2002-2004), and 6.6% (2005-2007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed a decreasing trend of nickel sensitization (only among younger women) and of chromium sensitization in both sexes.
authors: Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste 34129, Italy. frui@units.it
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Rui
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bovenzi
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Prodi
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Belloni Fortina
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Romano
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Corradin
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Larese Filon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel