title: Contact sensitivity in Behçet's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder with unknown etiology. Many immunological changes were reported in BD previously and these changes may affect the frequency of contact sensitivity in these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to identify whether there is an interaction between contact sensitivity and BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 'European standard series' with 27 allergens were performed on the upper backs of patients and healthy volunteers according to international standards using the IQ-Chamber. The test-units which contain these allergens were removed after 2 days. According to International Contact Dermatitis Research Group Recommendations test areas were evaluated on days 2, 3 and 7 to detect any delayed allergic reactions. The results of both groups were compared by using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred adult persons (50 BDs and 50 healthy controls) were tested. Positive patch test reaction to 1 or more allergens was observed in 7 (14%) patients in BD group and in 12 (24%) persons in control group. There was no statistically significant difference between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of contact sensitivity in BD is not different from healthy persons.
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Dermatology, Kocaeli, Turkey. evrenodyakmaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Evren Odyakmaz
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
authors.forename: Rebiay
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Aysun Sikar
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aktürk
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens