Comparison of patch testing results between job related and non job related allergic contact dermatitis in Iran

Background: Job-related allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) may prolong the disease duration, increase disabilities, and decrease the patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine common allergens causing ACD, investigating certain features of the disease and evaluating its relation to the patients’ jobs. Method: In this cross-sectional study, relevant data was obtained from patch test clinics at the Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and two private dermatology clinics in Tehran, Iran. Nine hundred and forty six patients from different regions of Iran with a probable diagnosis of ACD were recruited into the study. Patch testing was used as the gold standard test to differentiate ACD from other differential diagnoses. Result: Of 946 studied patients with a probable diagnosis of ACD, 649 (68.6%) cases were females. The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of the patients was 31.9 ± 12.3 years. Five hundred and twenty eight (55.7%) cases had positive patch test results to at least one tested allergen. Comparing job-related and non jobrelated ACD patients revealed that while there was a significant difference in the mean age of the two group (30.6 ± 11.3 vs. 32.7 ± 12.9 years in job-related and non-job-related groups, respectively) (P=0.016), there were no significant differences in the gender distribution, number of positive patch tests, frequency of allergens, reaction time, and severity of reactions between the two groups. Nickel sulphate and cobalt chloride were the two most common allergens in both groups. Conclusion: Job-related patients were younger and most of them were female compared to non job-related patients. However, other characteristics were not different between the two groups.