Current patch test results with the European baseline series and extensions to it from the ‘European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy’ network, 2007–2008
- 15 April 2012
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Contact Dermatitis
- Vol. 67 (1), 9-19
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2012.02070.x
Abstract
Background. The pattern of contact sensitization to the supposedly most important allergens assembled in the baseline series differs between countries, presumably at least partly because of exposure differences. Objectives. To describe the prevalence of contact sensitization to allergens tested in consecutive patients in the years 2007 and 2008, and to discuss possible differences. Methods. Data from the 39 departments in 11 European countries comprising the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy network (www.essca‐dc.org) in this period have been pooled and analysed according to common standards. Results. Patch test results with the European baseline series, and country‐specific or department‐specific additions to it, obtained in 25 181 patients, showed marked international variation. Metals and fragrances are still the most frequent allergens across Europe. Some allergens tested nationally may be useful future additions to the European baseline series, for example methylisothiazolinone, whereas a few long‐term components of the European baseline series, namely primin and clioquinol, no longer warrant routine testing. Conclusions. The present analysis points to ‘excess’ prevalences of specific contact sensitization in some countries, although interpretation must be cautious if only few, and possibly specialized, centres are representing one country. A comparison as presented may help to target in‐depth research into possible causes of ‘excess’ exposure, and/or consideration of methodological issues, including modifications to the baseline series.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- The ‘overall yield’ with the baseline series - a useful addition to the array of MOAHLFA factors describing departmental characteristics of patch tested patientsContact Dermatitis, 2011
- Nickel allergy in Spain needs active interventionContact Dermatitis, 2011
- The EU Nickel Directive revisited-future steps towards better protection against nickel allergyContact Dermatitis, 2011
- Patch TestingPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,2010
- The European baseline series in 10 European Countries, 2005/2006 – Results of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA)Contact Dermatitis, 2009
- Nickel Allergy in Danish Women before and after Nickel RegulationThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
- Recommendation to include fragrance mix 2 and hydroxyisohexyl 3‐cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (Lyral®) in the European baseline patch test seriesContact Dermatitis, 2008
- Guidelines for the descriptive presentation and statistical analysis of contact allergy dataContact Dermatitis, 2004
- A multilingual European patch test software concept: WinAlldat/ESSCAContact Dermatitis, 2003
- Epidemiologische Überwachung von KontaktallergenenDie Dermatologie, 2003