Patch Testing in Chronic Hand Eczema: A Multicentre Study in Portugal.
Over half of chronic hand eczema patients had a positive patch test reaction.
Patch Testing in Chronic Hand Eczema: A Multicentre Study in Portugal.
Chronic hand eczema (chronic hand eczema) is a common dermatitis with morphological and aetiological heterogeneity.
Determine the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis in chronic hand eczema patients, describe relevant allergens, and identify differences in atopic and occupational settings.
We conducted a multicentric retrospective observational study, based on patch testing results of chronic hand eczema patients evaluated between 2021 and 2023, in Portuguese dermatology departments, comparing atopic dermatitis and non-atopic and occupational and non-occupational groups.
The most common allergens included metals, preservatives, fragrances, rubber constituents and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
The occupational group revealed higher relevance rates for metals and benzisothiazolinone, whereas in the atopic dermatitis group, methylisothiazolinone and Myroxylon pereirae were considered more frequently relevant.
Chronic hand eczema patients present a high sensitization rate and allergic contact dermatitis is a main aetiology. Methylisothiazolinone and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate are confirmed as emergent allergens.
The higher relevance rate of metals and benzisothiazolinone in the occupational group reinforces the importance of patch testing in the occupational setting.