Standard patch test results in 3,225 consecutive Danish patient from 1973 to 1977.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Contact dermatitis is a common skin condition.
• Identifying prevalent allergens is crucial for diagnosis and prevention.
• Danish dermatology departments have historically collected extensive patient data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the frequency of common allergens identified through patch testing.
• To provide data on allergen prevalence from a specific Danish population cohort.
• To inform clinical practice and public health initiatives regarding contact allergens.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patch test data from 3,225 patients.
• Data collected between 1973 and 1977 at Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
• Identification and tabulation of allergens causing positive reactions in 1,038 patients.

Main Results:

• Nickel was the most frequent allergen, followed by dichromate and balsam of Peru.
• Other significant allergens included wood tar, carba mix, and wool alcohols.
• A substantial proportion (32.2%) of tested patients exhibited allergic reactions.

Conclusions:

• Nickel, dichromate, and balsam of Peru were identified as key allergens in the studied Danish population.
• The findings underscore the importance of these substances in the etiology of contact dermatitis.
• This data provides a historical benchmark for allergen prevalence in Scandinavia.