Patch Testing Results From the Massachusetts General Hospital Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic, 2017-2022

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Patch testing is the gold standard for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
• Understanding current allergen prevalence is crucial for clinical practice and public health.
• The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic serves a referral population for patch testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report patch testing results from the MGH Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic between 2017 and 2022.
• To identify common allergens and analyze trends in sensitization over time.
• To provide data on the evolving landscape of contact allergens.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1438 patients referred for patch testing at MGH from 2017 to 2022.
• Data collection included patient demographics, patch test results, and identified allergens.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine allergen prevalence and trends.

Main Results:

• A relevant positive patch test reaction was observed in 75.6% of patients.
• The most frequent allergens were nickel (21.5%), hydroperoxides of linalool (20.4%), and balsam of Peru (11.5%).
• Sensitization rates increased for propylene glycol and decreased for 12 other allergens over the study period (P < 0.0004).

Conclusions:

• Regular analysis of patch test data is vital for understanding evolving contact allergen trends in allergic contact dermatitis.
• The findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance of common allergens.
• This data can inform clinical management and public health strategies for ACD.