Patch test results with the European baseline series and additions there of in the ESSCA network, 2015-2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical surveillance of the prevalence of contact allergy in consecutively patch tested patients is a proven instrument to continually assess the importance of contact allergens (haptens) assembled in a baseline series. OBJECTIVES: To present current results from the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA), including 13 countries represented by one to 11 departments. METHODS: Anonymised or pseudonymised patch test and clinical data from various data capture systems used locally or nationally as transferred to the Erlangen data centre were pooled and descriptively analysed after quality control. RESULTS: In the 4 years 2015-2018, data from 51 914 patients patch tested with the European baseline series of contact allergens were analysed. Contact allergy to nickel was most frequent (17.6% positive), followed by contact allergy to fragrance mix I (6.9%), methylisothiazolinone (MI; 6.2%) and Myroxyolon pereirae resin (balsam of Peru; 5.8%). CONCLUSIONS: While the prevalence of MI contact allergy decreased substantially following regulatory intervention, the persistently high levels of allergy to metals, fragrances, other preservatives, and rubber chemicals point to problems needing further research and, potentially, preventive efforts. Results with national additions to the baseline series provide important information on substances possibly to be considered for inclusion in the European baseline series. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.