title: Epidemiological data on airborne contact dermatitis - results of the IVDK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airborne contact dermatitis (AirbCD) is not uncommon, according to a large number of published case reports and review articles. Epidemiological data on AirbCD based on larger clinical samples have not yet been published.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate demographic characteristics and patch test reactivity in patients diagnosed with both occupational and non-occupational AirbCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 1994-2013, including 201 344 consecutively patch tested patients, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand two hundred and three patients (0.6%) were diagnosed with AirbCD, 421 (35.0%) of these with an occupational background. Occupational dermatitis and face involvement were more prevalent than in patients without AirbCD (n = 200 141). Sensitization to epoxy resin and sensitization to methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/methylisothiazolinone (MI) were significantly associated with AirbCD, and there was a trend for sensitization to Compositae mix and/or sesquiterpene lactone mix to be associated with AirbCD. Adhesives, plastics, construction materials, paints and varnishes in occupational cases, and plants in non-occupational cases, were the most commonly documented culprit product categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AirbCD is more common in patients with occupational dermatitis than in patients with non-occupational dermatitis. In our clinical sample, components of epoxy resin systems, MCI/MI and Compositae allergens were the most important contact allergens associated with AirbCD. Patch testing with additional allergens is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology and Occupational Dermatology, Dermatologikum Hamburg, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D013844:Thiazoles; C011506:2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C011421:5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
keywords: airborne contact dermatitis; contact allergy; face dermatitis; occupational contact dermatitis; patch test