Metals Are Important Contact Sensitizers: An Experience from Lithuania

Biomed Res Int. 2017:2017:3964045. doi: 10.1155/2017/3964045. Epub 2017 Mar 16.

Abstract

Background. Metals are very frequent sensitizers causing contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis worldwide; up-to-date data based on patch test results has proved useful for the identification of a problem. Objectives. In this retrospective study prevalence of contact allergy to metals (nickel, chromium, palladium, gold, cobalt, and titanium) in Lithuania is analysed. Patients/Methods. Clinical and patch test data of 546 patients patch tested in 2014-2016, in Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, was analysed and compared with previously published data. Results. Almost third of tested patients (29.56%) were sensitized to nickel. Younger women were more often sensitized to nickel than older ones (36% versus 22.8%, p = 0.0011). Women were significantly more often sensitized to nickel than men (33% versus 6.1%, p < 0.0001). Younger patients were more often sensitized to cobalt (11.6% versus 5.7%, p = 0.0183). Sensitization to cobalt was related to sensitization to nickel (p < 0.0001). Face dermatitis and oral discomfort were related to gold allergy (28% versus 6.9% dermatitis of other parts, p < 0.0001). Older patients were patch test positive to gold(I) sodium thiosulfate statistically significantly more often than younger ones (44.44% versus 21.21%, p = 0.0281). Conclusions. Nickel, gold, cobalt, and chromium are leading metal sensitizers in Lithuania. Cobalt sensitization is often accompanied by sensitization to nickel. Sensitivity rate to palladium and nickel indicates possible cross-reactivity. No sensitization to titanium was found.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromium / toxicity*
  • Cobalt / toxicity*
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / epidemiology
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / etiology
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Gold / toxicity*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Hypersensitivity / physiopathology*
  • Lithuania
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nickel / toxicity*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Chromium
  • Cobalt
  • Gold
  • Nickel