TY - JOUR

T1 - Characteristics of chromium-allergic dermatitis patients prior to regulatory intervention for chromium in leather

T2 - a questionnaire study

AU - Bregnbak, David

AU - Thyssen, Jacob P

AU - Zachariae, Claus

AU - Johansen, Jeanne D

N1 - © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2014/12

Y1 - 2014/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Chromium-tanned leather articles currently constitute the most important cause of contact allergy to chromium in Denmark. A regulation on the content of hexavalent chromium in leather was adopted in November 2013 by the EU member states.OBJECTIVES: To characterize patients with chromium allergy and their disease, to serve as a baseline for future studies on the potential effect of the new regulation on chromium in leather.METHODS: A questionnaire case-control study was performed on 155 dermatitis patients with positive patch test reactions to potassium dichromate and a matched control group of 621 dermatitis patients. Comparisons were made by use of a χ(2) -test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations.RESULTS: Sixty-six per cent of chromium-allergic patients had a positive history of contact dermatitis caused by leather exposure. They had a significantly lower quality of life (p < 0.001), a higher prevalence of dermatitis during the last year (p = 0.008), a higher use of medication during the past 12 months (p = 0.001) and a higher prevalence of sick leave (p = 0.007) than patients in the control group.CONCLUSIONS: Chromium-allergic patients have more severe and more chronic contact dermatitis. Their primary chromium exposure comes from leather articles.

AB - BACKGROUND: Chromium-tanned leather articles currently constitute the most important cause of contact allergy to chromium in Denmark. A regulation on the content of hexavalent chromium in leather was adopted in November 2013 by the EU member states.OBJECTIVES: To characterize patients with chromium allergy and their disease, to serve as a baseline for future studies on the potential effect of the new regulation on chromium in leather.METHODS: A questionnaire case-control study was performed on 155 dermatitis patients with positive patch test reactions to potassium dichromate and a matched control group of 621 dermatitis patients. Comparisons were made by use of a χ(2) -test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations.RESULTS: Sixty-six per cent of chromium-allergic patients had a positive history of contact dermatitis caused by leather exposure. They had a significantly lower quality of life (p < 0.001), a higher prevalence of dermatitis during the last year (p = 0.008), a higher use of medication during the past 12 months (p = 0.001) and a higher prevalence of sick leave (p = 0.007) than patients in the control group.CONCLUSIONS: Chromium-allergic patients have more severe and more chronic contact dermatitis. Their primary chromium exposure comes from leather articles.

U2 - 10.1111/cod.12291

DO - 10.1111/cod.12291

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25142070

VL - 71

SP - 338

EP - 347

JO - Contact Dermatitis

JF - Contact Dermatitis

SN - 0105-1873

IS - 6

ER -