Experimental patch testing with chromium-coated materials

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Background: Chromium coatings on metal alloys can be decorative, and prevent corrosion and metal ion release. We recently showed that handling of a chromium-containing disc resulted in chromium deposition on the skin. Objectives: To examine patch test reactivity to chromium-coated discs. Methods: We included 15 patients: 10 chromium-allergic patients, and 5 patients without chromium allergy. All were patch tested with potassium dichromate, cobalt chloride, nickel sulfate, and nine different metallic discs. The chromium-allergic patients were also patch tested with serial dilutions of potassium dichromate. Results: Positive/weaker reactions were observed to disc B (1 of 10), disc C (1 of 10), and disc D, disc E, and disc I (4 of 10 each). As no controls reacted to any of the discs, the weak reactions indicate allergic reactions. Positive patch test reactions to 1770 ppm chromium(VI) in the serial dilutions of potassium dichromate were observed in 7 of 10 patients. When the case group was narrowed down to include only the patients with a current positive patch test reaction to potassium dichromate, elicitation of dermatitis by both chromium(III) and chromium(VI) discs was observed in 4 of 7 of patients. Conclusions: Many of the patients reacted to both chromium(III) and chromium(VI) surfaces. Our results indicate that both chromium(VI) and chromium(III) pose a risk to chromium-allergic patients.

Original languageEnglish
JournalContact Dermatitis
Volume76
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)333-341
Number of pages9
ISSN0105-1873
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • allergic chromium dermatitis, allergy, chromium, dermatitis, leather, metals, potassium dichromate

ID: 196142149