ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: While the standardization of exploration with photoallergy tests or photopatch testing runs its course in Europe, we have carried out an epidemiological study about the current situation of photoallergy in our country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have gathered the results of photopatch testing in seven hospital centres of Madrid, Cataluña, Galicia and Comunidad Valenciana during the years 2004 and 2005. The exploration has included, at least, the standard set of the Spanish Photobiology Group (GEF), with 16 (photo) allergens, that have been irradiated with 10 joules/cm(2). We have assessed the total number of explored patients, their sex, present, past or unknown relevance of positive photopatch testing, cross reactions, and allergens responsible for photosensitization. RESULTS: Of 224 patients explored by photopatch testing, 39.3 % show one or more positive tests. Seventy-one percent (103) were considered relevant with respect to clinical history, 14 cases (9.6 %) were cross reactions, and 28 (19.3 %) were considered of unknown relevance. The most prevalent allergens were nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, specially ketoprophen (43 patients), followed by bencydamine (7 patients) and etofenamate (5 patients). The mixture of four sunscreens from the standard set of the GEF only detected 10 of 16 patients with photoallergy to sunscreens. Photopatch testing of unknown relevance was mainly due to antiseptics (fenticlor) and topical antihistamines. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the modification of the standard set of photoallergens from the GEF, that should include the majority of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and sunscreens available in Spain. Ketoprophen continues to be the most frequent photoallergen in our country. It is also important for the cross sensitizations that may present. Sunscreens should be explored separately and not in form of a mixture.
Subject(s)
Allergens , Dermatitis, Photoallergic/diagnosis , Patch Tests/methods , Allergens/radiation effects , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/radiation effects , Cross Reactions , Female , Humans , Ketoprofen/adverse effects , Ketoprofen/radiation effects , Male , Patch Tests/standards , Photochemistry , Retrospective Studies , Spain , Sunscreening Agents/adverse effects , Sunscreening Agents/radiation effects , Ultraviolet RaysABSTRACT
Introducción. Mientras que la estandarización de la exploración con pruebas de fotoalergia o fotoparche (FTP) sigue su curso en Europa, hemos realizado un estudio epidemiológico sobre la situación actual de la fotoalergia en nuestro país. Material y métodos. Hemos recogido los resultados del FTP en 7 centros hospitalarios de Madrid, Cataluña, Galicia y Comunidad Valenciana, durante los años 2004 y 2005. La exploración ha incluido, al menos, la batería estándar del Grupo Español de Fotobiología (GEF), con 16 (foto)alergenos, que se han irradiado con 10 julios/ cm2. Hemos valorado el número total de pacientes explorados, su sexo, la relevancia presente, pasada o desconocida de los fotoparches positivos, las reacciones cruzadas y los alergenos responsables de la fotosensibilización. Resultados. El 39,3 % de los 224 pacientes explorados mediante FTP presentaron uno o más fotoparches positivos. Ciento tres (71 %) se consideraron relevantes respecto a la historia clínica, 14 (9,6 %) fueron reacciones cruzadas y 28 (19,3 %) se consideraron de relevancia desconocida. Los alergenos más prevalentes fueron los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos, particularmente el ketoprofeno (43 pacientes), seguido a distancia de la bencidamina (7 pacientes) y el etofenamato (5 pacientes). La mezcla de 4 filtros solares de la batería estándar del GEF sólo detectó 10/16 pacientes con fotoalergia a filtros solares. Los fotoparches de relevancia desconocida fueron sobre todo por antisépticos (fenticlor) y antihistamínicos tópicos. Conclusiones. Proponemos modificar la batería estándar de fotoalergenos del GEF, que debería contemplar la mayoría de los antiinflamatorios no esteroideos y filtros solares que hay en el mercado español. El ketoprofeno sigue siendo el fotoalergeno más frecuente en nuestro país. Su importancia deriva también de las sensibilizaciones cruzadas que puede presentar. Los filtros solares deben explorarse por separado, y no en forma de una mezcla
Introduction.While the standardization of exploration with photoallergy tests or photopatch testing runs its course in Europe, we have carried out an epidemiological study about the current situation of photoallergy in our country. Material and methods.We have gathered the results of photopatch testing in seven hospital centres of Madrid, Cataluña, Galicia and Comunidad Valenciana during the years 2004 and 2005. The exploration has included, at least, the standard set of the Spanish Photobiology Group (GEF), with 16 (photo) allergens, that have been irradiated with 10 joules/cm2. We have assessed the total number of explored patients, their sex, present, past or unknown relevance of positive photopatch testing, cross reactions, and allergens responsible for photosensitization. Results. Of 224 patients explored by photopatch testing, 39.3 % show one or more positive tests. Seventy-one percent (103) were considered relevant with respect to clinical history, 14 cases (9.6 %) were cross reactions, and 28 (19.3 %) were considered of unknown relevance. The most prevalent allergens were nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, specially ketoprophen (43 patients), followed by bencydamine (7 patients) and etofenamate (5 patients). The mixture of four sunscreens from the standard set of the GEF only detected 10 of 16 patients with photoallergy to sunscreens. Photopatch testing of unknown relevance was mainly due to antiseptics (fenticlor) and topical antihistamines. Conclusions. We propose the modification of the standard set of photoallergens from the GEF, that should include the majority of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and sunscreens available in Spain. Ketoprophen continues to be the most frequent photoallergen in our country. It is also important for the cross sensitizations that may present. Sunscreens should be explored separately and not in form of a mixture
