Biomaterial Database

Results of photopatch testing in Rotterdam during a 10-year period. 2002

R S L A Bakkum, and F Heule

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Rotterdam, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND Photoallergic contact dermatitis is of importance in a proportion of photodermatoses and can be evaluated through photopatch testing. OBJECTIVE To conduct a retrospective evaluation of photopatch tests performed in patients with suspected photodermatoses at the clinic at the University Hospital Rotterdam during a 10-year period. METHODS During the first 5(1/2) years 44 patients were tested with a standard set of 14 allergens, and during the next 4(1/2) years 55 patients were tested with a standard set of 23 allergens. RESULTS Photocontact reactions were found in 9% and 27% of patients in the two periods, respectively. In the second period, positive reactions were mostly produced by sunscreens. The difference in the percentage of positive photopatch tests was probably caused by the difference in composition of the standard set of allergens (more sunscreens in the second period), this being the only alteration in the test procedure. CONCLUSIONS The standard set of photoallergens has to be updated periodically. Standardization of the test procedure is needed to compare the test results of different institutions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010328	Patch Tests	Skin tests in which the sensitizer is applied to a patch of cotton cloth or gauze held in place for approximately 48-72 hours. It is used for the elicitation of a contact hypersensitivity reaction.	Patch Testing,Patch Test,Patch Testings,Test, Patch,Testing, Patch,Testings, Patch,Tests, Patch
D010787	Photosensitivity Disorders	Abnormal responses to sunlight or artificial light due to extreme reactivity of light-absorbing molecules in tissues. It refers almost exclusively to skin photosensitivity, including sunburn, reactions due to repeated prolonged exposure in the absence of photosensitizing factors, and reactions requiring photosensitizing factors such as photosensitizing agents and certain diseases. With restricted reference to skin tissue, it does not include photosensitivity of the eye to light, as in photophobia or photosensitive epilepsy.	Actinic Reticuloid Syndrome,Dermatitis, Actinic,Photodermatitis,Chronic Actinic Dermatitis,Photosensitization,Actinic Dermatitides,Actinic Dermatitides, Chronic,Actinic Dermatitis,Actinic Dermatitis, Chronic,Actinic Reticuloid Syndromes,Chronic Actinic Dermatitides,Dermatitides, Actinic,Dermatitides, Chronic Actinic,Dermatitis, Chronic Actinic,Disorder, Photosensitivity,Disorders, Photosensitivity,Photodermatitides,Photosensitivity Disorder,Reticuloid Syndrome, Actinic,Reticuloid Syndromes, Actinic,Syndrome, Actinic Reticuloid,Syndromes, Actinic Reticuloid
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000485	Allergens	Antigen-type substances that produce immediate hypersensitivity (HYPERSENSITIVITY, IMMEDIATE).	Allergen
D012189	Retrospective Studies	Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons.	Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D013473	Sunscreening Agents	Chemical or physical agents that protect the skin from sunburn and erythema by absorbing or blocking ultraviolet radiation.	Sunscreen,Sunscreens,Agents, Sunscreening