The reactivity of the back revisited. Are there differences in reactivity in different parts of the back?

• Background: In the contact dermatitis literature, it is regularly stated that the patch test reactivity on various areas of the back differs; this might have a large impact on the reproducibility of patch testing. Objectives: To investigate the reproducibility of patch testing on the upper back with regard to the left as opposed to the right side and the medial as opposed to the lateral part of the upper back. The reproducibility over time and with regard to the reactivity pattern was also investigated. Methods: Thirty-one subjects with contact allergy to the metals gold (n=19) or nickel (n=12) were patch tested with serial dilutions, in triplicate applications, on different locations on the upper back. The Friedman test was used for statistical calculations. Results: No significant differences in the reactivity of the back were found. In all gold-allergic patients and 11 of 12 nickel-allergic patients, the allergy could be reproduced with regard to previous patch testing, but the degree of reactivity differed. Conclusions: When a high level of standardization of the patch test technique with the same test system was used, there were no differences in patch test reactions and sites of application on the upper back.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Anatomical site

Angry back

Contact allergy

Excited skin syndrome

Patch test

Reactivity

Reproducibility

Serial dilution

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)