CONTACT SENSITIZATION TO METALS AMONG A GROUP OF BULGARIAN DENTAL TECHNICIAN STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THE DURATION OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPOSURE

Purpose: Sensitization to metals is a significant problem in dental, occupational exposures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of contact sensitization to selected metals during the course of study among students from dental technician school and the prevalence of co- sensitization. Material and Methods: Skin patch testing with potassium dichromate, cobalt, gold, nickel, copper, palladium, aluminium, tin and sodium tetrachloropalladate(II)hydrate was performed among 150 dental technician students (38 – 1st year of study,40 – 2nd year of study and 38 – 3rd year of study); the control group included 34 students without educational exposure to metals. Chi-square test, Fisher Exact Test and multiple binary logistic regression were used in data analysis. Results: During the educational course of dental technician students, a clear tendency of increase in the prevalence of sensitization to nickel (1st year of study - 10.5%, 3rd year of study - 36.8% cobalt (13.2% vs 39.5%) and palladium(II)chloride (10.5% vs 26.3%) was established. For the whole studied population, the prevalence of positive reactions to sodium tetrachloropalladate (II) hydrate was the highest – 30%; the highest recorded value was among the 2nd year students – 57.5%. The prevalence of sensitization to more than one metal allergen among the studied population was high (66.7%), the highest value was reported among 3rd-year dental technician students (78.9%). Conclusions: Our data indicate a high risk of contact sensitization to metals relevant for the dental technician students, which increases in the course of educational exposure for some of the metal haptens. Sodium tetrachloropalladate(II) hydrate could be outlined as a sensitizer of prominent importance, probably due to the increased sensitivity of this test salt. Additional and studies, including more respondents from the othe Colleges in Bulgaria are recommended. Adequate prevention programs and information should be provided, and the European Union regulations should be properly applied.

Analysis of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Contact Sensitization with respect to the Occupational Profiles in a Greek Patient Cohort: A Retrospective Analysis of a Greek Referral Centre and Future Perspectives

Contact dermatitis is a frequent skin disorder related to environmental and occupational etiological factors, which could potentially affect all age groups, as well as both genders. The current study is aimed at exploring the patterns of contact sensitization with respect to the population’s occupational patterns in Greece. A retrospective analysis was performed in a cohort of 1978 patients from 2014 to 2016. Patients were divided into two categories; blue collars (BlC) and white collars (WhC), as well as detailed occupation was considered. Separation was performed on the basis of their profession, i.e., labor workers and handicraftsmen were sorted to the BlC group, while office employees were sorted to the WhC group. The common allergen in all occupational subgroups was nickel sulphate. The three most prevalent allergens in both BlC and WhC were nickel sulphate 5%, fragrance mix (I) 8%, and Balsam of Peru 25%. WhC males were uniquely sensitized to colophony 20% and formaldehyde 2%, and WhC females were uniquely sensitized to 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and neomycin sulphate 20%. Sensitization to allergens manifested occupation-specific patterns. Allergic contact dermatitis surveillance is of great importance towards the clinical and systematic understanding of the disease, especially with respect to the patient’s occupational profile.

A nikkelérzékenység jelentősége az Európai Unió direktíváinak tükrében

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A nikkel széleskörűen elterjedt fém és kontaktallergén. Megtalálható mindennapi használati tárgyainkban, feldolgozza az ipari termelés, és az egészségügyben is rendre bővül alkalmazási köre. Egyidejűleg a társadalom növekvő hányadánál fordul elő nikkel-kontaktszenzibilizáció. Célkitűzés: Az epicutan tesztelt betegcsoport adatainak feldolgozása, kiemelve a nikkelpozitív betegek megoszlását nem, életkor, diagnózis, a klinikai tünetek lokalizációja és a társult fémérzékenység szerint, továbbá a 2004 óta érvényes európai uniós Nikkel Direktívák hatásainak tanulmányozása. Módszer: A közlemény a Semmelweis Egyetem Bőr-, Nemikórtani és Bőronkológiai Klinikájának Allergológia Laboratórium és Szakambulanciáján 1994-től 2014-ig 13 693 fő (10–87 év közötti) standard környezeti epicutan sorral tesztelt beteg adatait vizsgálja retrospektív módon. Eredmények: Az összes vizsgált bőrbeteg nikkelszenzibilizációs aránya 1994-ben 13,1%, 2004-ben 11,5%, 2014-ben 19,1% volt. A nikkel-kontaktdermatitis főként nőbetegeknél (93,0%) fordul elő. A klinikai tünetek elsősorban a karokra és az arcra lokalizálódnak. Nikkelérzékenyeknél az allergiás kontaktdermatitis diagnózisa 65,8%, atopiás dermatitis 9,7%-nál fordul elő. A nikkelérzékenységhez leggyakrabban társult fémallergének a kobalt és a króm. Az 1994–2004-es periódushoz képest az európai uniós Nikkel Direktívákat követő 10 évben a szenzibilizáció százalékos emelkedése szignifikáns volt, ugyanakkor a nikkelpozitívak évenkénti száma csökkent. 1994-ben a betegek legnagyobb hányada (26,5%) a 20–24 éves korcsoportba tartozott, 2004-ben szintén (20,8%), 2014-ben azonban a 35–39 éves korosztályhoz (15,1%). Következtetések: A nikkelszenzibilizáció korban eltolódást mutat az idősebb korosztály felé, a 35 évesnél fiatalabb betegek száma mérséklődött. A Nikkel Direktívák révén a fiatalabbak későbbi életkorban és kisebb mértékű nikkelexpozíciónak vannak kitéve. A vizsgált betegek nikkelérzékenységének százalékos emelkedése miatt azonban újabb szabályozások bevezetése és a hatályban lévők módosítása szükségszerű. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(16): 629–637. Summary. Introduction: Nickel is a widely used metal and contact allergen. It can be found in our everyday objects and it is becoming more prevalent in healthcare. Simultaneously, nickel contact sensitization occurs more frequently. Objective: Analysis of data of patch tested patients by gender, age, diagnosis, localization of skin lesions, and associated metal sensitivity. Furthermore, to study the effects of the European Nickel Directives in force since 2004. Method: Retrospective analysis of data of 13 693 patients (aged 10–87) tested with a standard series of contact allergens at the Allergy Outpatient Unit and Laboratory of the Department, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University. Result: Nickel sensitization of all examined patients was 13.1% in 1994, 11.5% in 2004, and 19.1% in 2014. Contact dermatitis occurred mainly in females (93.0%). Skin lesions are primarily localized to the arms and face. Diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis occurred in 65.8%, and atopic dermatitis in 9.7% of tested patients. Commonly associated metal sensitivities were cobalt and chromium. In the 10 years following the Nickel Directives, the increase of the ratio of sensitized patients was significant while the number of nickel-positives per year decreased. Both in 1994 and 2004, the largest proportion of patients belonged to the 20–24 age group (26.5% and 20.8%, respectively), but in 2014, to the 35–39 age group (15.1%). Conclusion: Nickel sensitization shifts towards the older age group, with a decrease in young patients. Because of the Nickel Directives, people are exposed to nickel at a later age and to a lesser extent. Due to the increase of the ratio of nickel-sensitive patients, it is necessary to introduce new regulations and amend the existing ones. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(16): 629–637.

The Effect of Atopy in the Prevalence of Contact Sensitization: The Experience of a Greek Referral Center

Contact dermatitis is a well-known skin condition, which is related to stimuli and environmental exposure to chemicals, affecting all ages as well as both genders. In the present work, we attempt to investigate the patterns of contact sensitization, with respect to the personal history of atopy (AT), in Greece in a large number of allergens, using patch testing. The retrospective analysis included clinical routine data of 1978 patients collected from 2014 to 2016 in the Laboratory of Patch Testing, National Referral Centre of Occupational Dermatoses. Sensitization, in all cases, was tested with 28 allergens of the European baseline series as adjusted to our local circumstances and clinical experience. A total population of 1978 patients was evaluated, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.45 (1359 females/619 males). From our patient cohort, 693 (35%) patients were evaluated with a history of atopy, while 1285 (65%) were nonatopic. The five most prevalent allergens in the total population without AT were nickel sulphate 5% (15.47%), fragrance mix (I) 8% (9.10%), balsam of Peru (6.47%), cobalt chloride 1% (4.70%), and thiomersal 0.1% (4.10%). Respectively, in the total population with AT, the five most prevalent allergens were nickel sulphate 5% (10.36%), fragrance mix (I) 8% (5.11%), balsam of Peru (3.29%), thiomersal 0.1% (3.03%), and cobalt chloride 1% (2.78%). Contact dermatitis surveillance is of great importance towards the clinical and systematic understanding of the disease. Further studies should be directed towards that end, in order to facilitate more effective health policies.