title: Contact sensitization to modern dressings: a multicentre study on 354 patients with chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modern dressings (MDs) may have a low sensitization rate, but there is a lack of prospective studies in patients with chronic leg ulcers (CLUs) to evaluate this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of sensitization (contact allergy) to MDs and substances present in dressings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective multicentre study was carried out in patients with CLUs at five French dermatology departments; patch tests were performed with the European baseline series and with an additional 27 individual allergens and 10 MDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 354 patients (226 women and 128 men) with CLUs, 59.6% had at least one positive patch test reaction to an MD and 19% had at least one sensitization to an MD. The number of positive test reactions per patient was correlated with the duration of ulcerative disease, but not with ulcer duration, the cause of the ulcer, or the presence of surrounding eczematous lesions. For 11 of 45 patients sensitized to Ialuset cream®, more detailed information could be obtained with sensitization to sodium dehydroacetate (5 cases) or Lanette SX® (3 cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to MDs is not rare. It is absolutely necessary to label all components of MDs on their packaging and to avoid some sensitizing molecules, such as colophonium derivatives or any strong sensitizers.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital of Nancy, rue du Morvan 54511, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valois
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waton
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avenel-Audran
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Truchetet
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raison-Peyron
authors.forename: Jean Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cuny
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bethune
authors.forename: Jean Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schmutz
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbaud
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: chronic leg ulcer; contact allergy; medical devices; modern dressings; patch tests