Contact sensitization in Chinese patients with hand eczema.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Contact sensitization is an important cause of hand eczema, a common disease that affects both daily and occupational life.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe contact allergens in Chinese patients with hand eczema and to analyze the association between allergens and occupational exposure.

METHODS:

Three hundred sixty-six patients with hand eczema underwent patch testing with a modified North American standard series between September 1989 and December 2009.

RESULTS:

Positive patch-test reactions were observed in 74% of patients. The most frequent allergens were p-phenylenediamine (22.7%), nickel sulfate (21.9%), fragrance mix (19.9%), ammoniated mercury (19.7%), and carba mix (17.8%). Nickel and fragrance allergy in women, and carba mix and chromate allergy in men, showed gender predilection, and 64.2% of patients developed hand eczema from occupational exposure. Positive reactions to p-phenylenediamine in hairdressers and to chromate in metalworkers and construction workers presented higher frequencies (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

p-Phenylenediamine, nickel, fragrance, mercury, and rubber chemicals are common allergens in Chinese patients with hand eczema. Gender and occupation may cause different exposures; thus, allergens may vary.

• Authors: Chunya Ni, Xia Dou, Jianyou Chen, Xuejun Zhu, Lingling Liu
• Journal: Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug (Dermatitis) 2011 Jul-Aug Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 211-5 ISSN: 2162-5220 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21781637 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Chromates
• Guanidines
• Perfume
• Phenylenediamines
• carbamix
• nickel sulfate
• Mercuric Chloride
• Ammonia
• Nickel
• Ditiocarb
• mercuric chloride, ammoniated
• 4-phenylenediamine

Topics

• Adult
• Ammonia
• Asian People
• Chromates
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis)
• Dermatitis, Occupational (diagnosis)
• Ditiocarb
• Eczema (diagnosis)
• Female
• Guanidines
• Hand Dermatoses (diagnosis)
• Humans
• Male
• Mercuric Chloride
• Middle Aged
• Nickel
• Occupational Exposure
• Patch Tests
• Perfume
• Phenylenediamines
• Sex Factors
• Young Adult