Contact sensitization pattern in 172 atopic subjects.

Some authors have claimed a decreased cell-mediated immunity among atopic individuals, which would lead to observations of decreased rates of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The purpose of our study was to investigate contact sensitization patterns in atopic subjects compared with non-atopic subjects. Patch test data for 1247 patients undergoing patch testing at Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2006 were reviewed. Using accepted criteria, 172 subjects were classified as atopic individuals (AIs), and 1075 were classified as non-atopic individuals (NAIs). Sensitization rates were compared between these two groups. Sensitization rates (65.0% and 57.4% in the AI and NAI groups, respectively) and average numbers of positive responses (1.5 and 1.2 in the AI and NAI groups, respectively) were higher in AIs. Leading allergens observed were similar for both groups. Sensitization to potassium dichromate and phenylmercuric acetate was significantly greater in the AI group. The most frequent diagnosis in both groups was ACD (41.9% and 45.5% in the AI and NAI groups, respectively). In addition, more NAIs who were employed in occupations with exposure to wet and/or irritant conditions had hand eczema (P < 0.005). Atopic individuals were shown to be at least as likely to have ACD as NAIs. The most common sensitizers were similar in both groups, suggesting common sources of sensitization.