We analysed the patch test results in 1,374 patients suffering from
dermatoses in the anogenital area (n = 561 genital
dermatoses, n = 470 anal
dermatoses, n = 343 anogenital
dermatoses) patch tested in 44 dermatological departments of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology from 2004 to 2008. All other patients patch tested during this time period without anogenital
dermatoses formed the control group (n = 49, 142). Of the total study group, 662 (48.2%) patients were male. 179 (13%) had a past or present
atopic dermatitis. The vast majority of the patients was older than 40 years (n = 989, 72%). Suspected
allergen sources were first of all topical medicaments, followed by
cosmetics,
cleansing agents, clothes, rubber products, systemic medicaments and
disinfectants.
Allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 409 (29.8%) of the tested patients. Patients with anogenital
dermatoses were sensitized mainly to active agents of topical medicaments, in particular
bufexamac (5.3%). Sensitization pattern and sensitization rates observed in patients with genital and anal involvement differed significantly. Patients with anal disease had significantly higher sensitization rates for
bufexamac (9.4 vs. 1.1%), fragrance mix I (8.7 vs. 4.2%) and II (4.5 vs. 2.6%),
propolis (5.4 vs. 1.9%) and
methyldibromoglutaronitrile (6.3 vs. 4.1%). Patients with chronic anal
dermatoses seem to have a higher risk to develop sensitizations to topically applied products and drugs than patients with genital
dermatoses. Recommended patch test series (German
Contact Dermatitis Research Group) are standard series, local anaesthetics series, topical
antibiotics, antimycotics,
steroids,
ointment bases and preservative series as well as the patients' own products.