Frequencies of contact hypersensitivity to common haptens and psoriasis drugs among psoriasis patients

J. Pietowska, K. Curzytek, R. Spiewak

Institute of Dermatology, Celimun Biomedical Research, Krakow, Poland

Source: Pietowska J, Curzytek K, Spiewak R. Frequencies of contact hypersensitivity to common haptens and psoriasis drugs among psoriasis patients. Abstract 916. Allergy 2007; 62 (Suppl 83: XXVI Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology): 326.

Aim: To assess the frequency of contact allergy among patients with psoriasis.

Methods: Meta-analysis of the clinical-epidemiological publications concerning the frequency of contact allergy among psoriasis patients. Pooled frequencies with confidence intervals (95%CI) were presented in comparison to estimates of frequencies of contact allergy in the general population (Schäfer et al. 2001).

Results: The pooled frequency of contact allergy among patients with psoriasis in all analyzed publications was 21.6% (95%CI 18,8 - 24,5%). Most patients were allergic to nickel (8,7%; 95%CI 6,6-10,8%; frequency in the general population according to Schäfer: 9.9%). Other haptens also commonly sensitizing psoriasis patients were: diaminodiphenylmethan (3,3%; 95%CI 1,3-5,3%; the estmates for general population were not available), fragrance mix (2,7%; 95%CI 1,5-3,9%; Schäfer: 11,4%), thiomersal (2,5%; 95%CI 1,0-4,0%; Schäfer: 3,2%), neomycin (2,4%; 95%CI 1,2-3,7%; Schäfer: 1,3%), P-phenylenediamine (2,2%; 95%CI 1,1-3,4%; Schäfer: 3,2%), chromium (2,1%; 95%CI 0,9-3,2%; Schäfer: 0,8%). Among patients with psoriasis, contact allergy to topical drugs used for treating this disease also occurs quite often: 5.1% of all patients with psoriasis were allergic to dithranol, and 3.6% to coal tar.

Conclusions: The frequency of contact allergy among psoriasis patients is similar to at in the general population. Rare allergy to fragrance mix among psoriasis patients is an exception, which could be a result of the less frequent use of perfumes in this group. The relatively high frequency of contact allergy to psoriasis medications is of particular relevance taking into consideration the long-lasting topical treatment.

Related articles:

  1. Spiewak R. Köbnerizing occupational contact allergy to thiuram in a farmer with psoriasis. . Contact Dermatitis 2004, 51 (4): 214-215.
  2. Spiewak R. Patch testing for contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis. Open Allergy J 2008, 1: 42-51.

Links:

Institute of Dermatology, Krakow, Poland

English-speaking dermatologist in Krakow (Cracow), Poland

Deutschsprechender Hautarzt in Krakow (Krakau), Polen

Sensimun (formerly Celimun Biomedical Research) - outsourcing in allergy and immunology

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Document created: 8 July 2007, last updated: 25 November 2021.