[Change in the allergen spectrum in contact eczema 1975-1984]

The patch test results in 8247 patients tested in the years from 1975 to 1984 at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Graz were evaluated and a trend analysis was performed. The most conspicuous results were: Increase of contact allergy to nickel in young women; Decrease of contact allergy to chromate; Frequent occurrence of contact allergy to 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane.