FS14.3 Interleukins in patch‐test blisters for the detection of contact allergy

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether interleukins in blisters formed at patch‐test sites can be used as markers of the grade of contact allergy.Methods: Recently patch‐tested volunteers with and without allergy to nickel sulfate were retested with 5 nickel sulfate patch tests and 5 control tests. 48 hours later, the test were removed and the perfusion of the test sites was assessed with a laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) technique. Then, suction blisters were made at the test sites. Blister fluids were collected separately from the allergen test sites and the control‐test sites.Results: The patch‐test results prior to the study and in current study, and the results with the LDPI helped to distinguish between subjects with and without allergy to nickel sulfate. The concentration of one of the interleukins was high in the blister fluid from the nickel‐test sites in all of the allergic subjects while the concentration was not detectable or low in fluid from the control sites and in fluid both from the nickel and the control sites in subjects without nickel allergy.Conclusion: Immunological factors in fluid from blisters at patch‐test sites may be important for the detection of contact allergy.Acknowledgement: Icelandic Research Council.