European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA): polysensitization, 2009-2014.

Dittmar, Daan; Uter, Wolfgang; Bauer, Andrea; Fortina, Ana B; Bircher, Andreas J; Czarnecka-Operacz, Magdalena; Dugonik, Aleksandra; Elsner, Peter; Gallo, Rosella; Ghaffar, Sharizan A; Giménez-Arnau, Anna; Johnston, Graham A; Kręcisz, Beata; Filon, Francesca L; Rustemeyer, Thomas; Sadowska-Przytocka, Anna; Sánchez-Pérez, Javier; Schnuch, Axel; Simon, Dagmar; Spiewak, Radoslaw; ... (2018). European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA): polysensitization, 2009-2014. Contact dermatitis, 78(6), pp. 373-385. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1111/cod.12966

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BACKGROUND

Polysensitization, defined as being allergic to three or more haptens from the European baseline series, is considered to reflect increased susceptibility to developing a contact allergy, and is likely to be associated with an impaired quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalences of polysensitization across Europe and to analyse factors associated with polysensitization.

METHODS

Patch test data collected by the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA; www.essca-dc.org) in consecutively patch tested patients from January 2009 to December 2014, comprising 11 countries and 57 departments, were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 86 416 patients were available for analysis, showing a standardized prevalence of polysensitization of 7.02%, ranging from 12.7% (Austria) to 4.6% (Italy). Allergen pairs with the strongest association are reported for the total population, for South Europe, and for North/Central Europe. Overall, polysensitized patients showed a higher percentage of extreme (+++) positive patch test reactions than oligosensitized patients. Female sex, occupational dermatitis and age > 40 years were risk factors for polysensitization.

CONCLUSIONS

The varying prevalences of polysensitization across Europe most likely reflect differences in patient characteristics and referral patterns between departments. Known risk factors for polysensitization are confirmed in a European dermatitis population.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Dermatology

UniBE Contributor:

Simon, Dagmar

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0105-1873

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Language:

English

Submitter:

Andrea Studer-Gauch

Date Deposited:

28 Dec 2018 12:43

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:22

Publisher DOI:

10.1111/cod.12966

PubMed ID:

29468728

Uncontrolled Keywords:

clinical epidemiology contact allergy patch test polysensitization

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.122271

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/122271

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