title: Time trends of contact allergy to the European baseline series in Lithuania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monitoring trends of positive patch test reactions is useful for epidemiological surveillance and contact allergy prevention, and has not previously been reported in Lithuania.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine and compare changes in the prevalence of contact allergy to European baseline series allergens in adults with suspected contact dermatitis during a 9-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, patch test results of 297 consecutive patients, tested with the European baseline series in 2014-2015, were analysed and compared with the data published earlier in Lithuania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common allergens were nickel sulfate (30.6%), methylisothiazolinone (MI) (13.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/MI (7.4%), potassium dichromate (6.1%), cobalt chloride (6.1%), Myroxylon pereirae resin (5.4%), p-phenylenediamine (5.4%), fragrance mix I (4.7%), formaldehyde (4.4%), and methyldibromo glutaronitrile (3.7%). Increases in the prevalence of sensitization to MCI/MI (2.3% in 2006-2008 and 7.4% in 2014-2015; p < 0.0001) and nickel sulfate (16.4% in 2006-2008 and 30.6% in 2014-2015; p < 0.0001) and decreases in the prevalence of sensitization to paraben mix (3.2% in 2006-2008 and 0.3% in 2014-2015; p = 0.006) were observed. Prevalences for the other allergens remained stable or showed a decreasing trend (Myroxylon pereirae resin; p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides current information on the prevalence of contact allergy in Lithuania. Changing trends in sensitivity to some allergens probably reflect changes in exposure.
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Hospital, Santariskiu Klinikos, Center of Pulmonology and Allergology, 08661, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Kotryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linauskienė
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Hospital, Santariskiu Klinikos, Center of Pulmonology and Allergology, 08661, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malinauskienė
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University Hospital, Santariskiu Klinikos, Center of Pulmonology and Allergology, 08661, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Audra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blažienė
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D029904:Myroxylon; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000639:trends; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009570:Nitriles; D010476:Perfume; D010655:Phenylenediamines; D012116:Resins, Plant; D013844:Thiazoles; D005557:Formaldehyde; C011506:2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; D003035:Cobalt; C029938:nickel sulfate; D009532:Nickel; C011421:5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C018021:cobaltous chloride; D011192:Potassium Dichromate; C029728:4-phenylenediamine; C039411:1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane
keywords: European baseline series; MCI/MI; contact allergy; epidemiology; nickel sulfate; paraben mix; time trends