title: ESSCA results with the baseline series, 2002-2012: p-phenylenediamine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic contact dermatitis caused by p-phenylenediamine (PPD) is common among all age groups and both sexes. Monitoring of prevalence and intensity of sensitization is important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate contact allergy to PPD in Europe, and to compare reaction intensities in different European regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected by the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA) network between 2002 and 2012 from 12 European countries were analysed regarding prevalence, grading of positive reactions to PPD, and relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 99 926 PPD-positive patients from 63 departments were included for analysis. The overall (2002-2012) prevalence of PPD sensitization in Europe is ∼4%. Stratified for country, the highest overall standardized prevalence was found in Lithuania, and the lowest in Slovenia. The prevalence of PPD sensitization did not decline over the years. In the southern European countries, higher numbers of strong and extremely strong reactions were registered. The clinical relevance of PPD sensitization varied from half to three-quarters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of PPD sensitization has not changed over time. Strong and extremely strong patch test reactions are seen more often in the South, probably because of the higher number of PPD-containing hair dye products.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schuttelaar
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tatiana A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, 34129, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-317, Kielce, Poland.|Department of Dermatology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 90-950, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kręcisz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 90-950, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chomiczewska-Skora
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 90-950, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kieć-Świerczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4498-3710
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, 34129, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Larese Filon
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D006202:Hair Dyes; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C029728:4-phenylenediamine
keywords: CAS no. 106-50-3; allergic contact dermatitis; contact allergy; epidemiology; p-phenylenediamine; patch tests