Hand dermatitis in adults referred for patch testing: Analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2000 to 2016

Abstract

Hand eczema (HE) is a heterogeneous and burdensome disorder. To characterize the clinical characteristics, etiologies and allergen relevance in adults with HE referred for patch testing. Retrospective analysis (2000-2016) of North American Contact Dermatitis Group data (n=37,113). Overall, 10,034 patients had HE, with differences of overlap between allergic contact, irritant contact, and atopic dermatitis. Allergic contact HE fluctuated, whereas atopic HE steadily increased, and irritant HE decreased over time. HE was associated with higher proportions of positive patch tests (67.5% vs 63.8%; χ2, P<.0001). The five most common clinically relevant allergens were methylisothiazolinone, nickel, formaldehyde, quaternium-15, and fragrance mix I. HE was associated with significantly higher odds of positive patch test reactions and clinical relevance in 13 and 16 of the 25 most common allergens, respectively, including preservatives, metals, topical medications, and rubber accelerators. No data on HE phenotype. HE in adults was associated with higher proportions of positive patch tests, with a heterogeneous profile of allergens. Patch testing remains an important tool in the evaluation of patients with HE.