Analysis of patch testing results in patients with contact dermatitis in Istanbul, Turkey, from 2012 to 2022

Abstract

Background: Allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) differ between populations. They can even change over the years with the effect of environmental factors. Aims: To evaluate the results of patch testing performed in our center. Methods: In this study, the thin-layer rapid-use epicutaneous (T.R.U.E.) test results of patients with a diagnosis of ACD between 2012 and 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: In 431 (42.5%) of the total 1012 patients, a positive reaction to at least one allergen was detected in the patch test. Allergen positivity was most detected for nickel sulphate (16.8%), gold sodium thiosulfate (GST) (6.9%), thimerosal (4.2%), fragrance mix (3.4%), carba mix (3.2%), and cobalt dichloride (2.9%). Nickel sulfate and GST sensitivity was found to be significantly higher in women, fragrance mix sensitivity in men, thimerosal sensitivity in individuals aged under 40 years, colophony and balsam of Peru sensitivity in head and neck dermatitis, and carba mix and thiuram mix sensitivity in atopic individuals. Conclusions: This study presents comprehensive data from Turkey concerning the sensitivity frequencies for allergens included in the T.R.U.E. test.