An epidemiological study of allergic contact dermatitis in Greece: prevalence of sensitization to an adapted European baseline series’ allergens

Authors

  • Anna Tagka First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece
  • Alexandros Stratigos First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece
  • Panagiotis Stavropoulos First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece
  • Dimitrios Rigopoulos First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece
  • Argiro Chatziioannou First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20183443

Keywords:

Contact dermatitis, Sensitization, Allergen, Prevalence, Greece

Abstract

Background: Contact dermatitis is a common skin disorder related to environmental exposures affecting, all age groups, and both genders. The pattern of contact sensitization to a series of allergens included in the European baseline series has already been studied for a number of EU countries by the ESSCA Network. The current study aims to explore the patterns of contact dermatitis in Greece through a patch test against a large number of allergens provoking contact dermatitis.

Methods: Retrospective analyses of routine data of 668 patients were collected during 2014 in the Laboratory of Patch Testing, National Referral Centre of Occupational Dermatoses. Sensitization in all cases was tested with a battery of 28 allergens of the European baseline series and additional ones aiming to identify new sensitizations to inform the National baseline of allergens; information for an extended MOAHLFA index was also collected.

Results: One at least positive result was found in 61.5% of the patients while 19.1% of those found to be sensitized in two or more allergens. Nickel sulphate, fragrance mix and balsam of Peru were the most prevalent allergens in the total population, as well as with respect to gender. Nickel is the most frequent allergen of baseline series, a result which is in agreement with other reports.

Conclusions: Allergic contact dermatitis surveillance is of great importance towards the clinical and systematic understanding of the disease. Further studies should be directed towards that end, in order to facilitate more effective health policies.

Author Biographies

Anna Tagka, First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School

Consultant

Alexandros Stratigos, First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

Professor

Panagiotis Stavropoulos, First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

Professor

Dimitrios Rigopoulos, First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

Professor

Argiro Chatziioannou, First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, “Andreas Syggros” Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Ionos Dragoumi 5, Athens, Greece

Professor

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Published

2018-10-25

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Original Research Articles