BACKGROUND: The first multicenter study on standard patenest results(1983-1986) was tried in Korea. Since then 10 years have elapsed and epidemiologi al data need be updated continuously. OBJECTIVE: To register and compile the results of patch the ig throughout the country and to compare the positivity ard trend with those of previous study. METHODS: Standard patch testings were performed using irachamper on Scanpor tape. The results were analysed by a personal computer program. RESULTS: A total of 2326 patch tested cases(male 539, female 1787) were compiled and analysed. The highest ag distribution was 3rd decade. As the job distribution, housewives and office workers were the mast frequent consisting 33.4% and 12.1% respectively. The face was the most frequently affected site comprising 49.6%. The highesteritization rates were foud with nickel(17.9%), cobalt(13.8%), fragrance mix(12.9%), potass ur dichromate(11.3%), ammoniated mercury(8.7%), neoaycin(7.2%). The lowest positivity inclured black rubber mix(1.0%), primin (1.2%), ethylenediarnine(1.3%), carba mix(1.4%), While nicel epoxy resin and 4-t-butylphenol formaldehyde resin showed increased reactivities, PPD, bacrubber mix, balsam of Peru, quaternium 15, ammceniatct mercury and captan showd a deceased tendency when compared with those of previous study. CONCLUSION: The large scale studies of epidemiology in cortat dermatitis have been performed and they need to be updated and analysed consecutively in the future.
Captan ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Korea* ; Microcomputers ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Rubber

BACKGROUND: Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is a rare disease worldwide. It has been defined on the basis of three criteria: 1) clinical - a persistent eczematous eruption on sun- exposed area with possible extension into non-exposed areas, 2) photobiological - a reduction in the minimal erythema dose to UVB irradiation, and possibly longer wavelengths, and 3) histologic - an appearance consistent with chronic eczema, with or without the presence of lymphoma-like changes. However, only a few clinicohistopathologic and photobiological analyses of CAD have been undertaken in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To explore photoallergens and/or allergens causing or thought to be associated with CAD in Korean patients, and to compare the photopatch or patch test results in Korea with those from other countries. METHODS: Thirty-five Korean patients with CAD were enrolled for this study. Photopatch tests were carried out by applying two sets of the Scandinavian photopatch series to each patient. Two days after application, the photopatch tests were analysed, and one set of the photoallergens was irradiated with 50% of the MED-UVA. Both sets of photoallergens were examined 2 days later. A European standard series was used to assess the patch tests. At two and four days after application, patch tests were analysed. RESULT: Twenty-seven of the 35 patients (77.1%) who had photopatch tests showed positive responses; balsam of Peru, promethazine HCl, perfume mix, fentichlor, chlorhexidine digluconate, and chlorpromazine HCl were the common photoallergens that elicited a positive response. Twenty-one of the 35 patients (70%) showed allergy to nickel, chrome, and/or ammoniated mercury. Noticeably, photoallergens such as balsam of Peru, perfume mix, cobalt, and captan revealed positive reactions in the patch tests, too. CONCLUSION: In 77.1% and 74.3% of CAD patients, photoallergens and allergens were identified, respectively. Among them, 57.1% showed positive reactions including both photopatch and patch tests. After the most frequent photoallergens, perfume and spices, and phenothiazines or related antihistamines ranked next and were found to be a unique characteristic to Korea. Photopatch and patchtests are the method for detecting photoallergens and allergens as important initiating agents and are the diagnostic tool for the epidemiologic study of CAD.
Allergens ; Captan ; Chlorhexidine ; Chlorpromazine ; Cobalt ; Eczema ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Erythema ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Nickel ; Patch Tests* ; Perfume ; Peru ; Phenothiazines ; Photosensitivity Disorders* ; Promethazine ; Rare Diseases ; Spices