Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
A Mouse Ear Model for Allergic Contact Dermatitis Evaluation
Published on: March 24, 2023
Inflammatory bowel disease in relation to contact allergy: a patient-based study
Kåre Engkilde1, Torkil Menné, Jeanne Duus Johansen
1National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. kaaeng02@gentoftehosp.kbhamt.dk
Objective:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has previously been investigated with relation to allergic conditions; however, diverging results were found and there are only a few small studies focusing on delayed hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between contact allergy (CA), which is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction of the skin, and IBD.
Material And Methods:
A database consisting of a cohort of 13,315 patients, patch tested between 1985 and 2003, was linked with the Danish National Patient Registry using a unique personal identifier number. The patients were patch tested at a dermatology department with a long history of research in CA. By record linking with the Danish National Patient Registry, patients were identified who had either an International Classification of Disease (ICD) code for Crohn's disease (CD) or an ICD code for ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosis. Using logistic regression, with the result of the patch test as the dependent variable, we calculated the odds ratios for IBD, CD and UC, adjusted for gender and age.
Results:
An inverse association between CA and IBD was found, odds ratio adjusted for age and gender 0.71 (CI 95% 0.53-0.94), which is mainly the result of an inverse association between CA and CD, odds ratio adjusted for age and gender 0.42 (CI 95% 0.23-0.76).
Conclusions:
The association found between CA and IBD might be related to shared genetic factors or common environmental determinates. It may also be that having either disease result in skewness of the immune system might lead to an inverse disease association.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...