title: Contact sensitization in prurigo patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are no studies on contact allergy in patients with prurigo. With itch being important in the pathophysiology of prurigo diseases and being a symptom of allergic contact dermatitis, we aimed to investigate contact allergy in patients suffering from prurigo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Exploratory analysis of patch test results in prurigo patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 2005-2014, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 116 744 patch tested patients, 639 (0.55%) were diagnosed with prurigo. The median age was 61 years, 286 (45%) were pensioners, and 252 (39.5%) had generalized prurigo. The indication for patch testing was exclusion of contact allergy in 412 patients (64.5%), and 223 patients (35%) had at least one positive patch test reaction. There was no distinctive pattern of sensitization. Prurigo patients had significantly more (and stronger) reactions to the irritant control patch test with sodium lauryl sulfate than a control group (27.6% versus 21.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although prurigo is not a typical clinical manifestation of contact sensitization, our results indicate that patch testing in these patients may be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Ruprecht Karls University, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig Maximilian University, 80337, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein Technical University, 80802, Munich, Germany.|ZAUM Centre of Allergy and Environment, 80802, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), University of Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011536:Prurigo / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
keywords: allergy; contact allergy; contact dermatitis; contact sensitization; itch; prurigo; pruritus