Prevalence of hypersensitivity reactions in various forms of mastocytosis: A pilot study of 2485 adult patients with mastocytosis collected in the ECNM registry.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions (HR) are common in mastocytosis. However, little is known about triggers and risk factors. The registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) enables reliable studies in a larger cohort of mastocytosis patients. We assessed prevalence, triggers and risk factors of HR in adults with mastocytosis in the ECNM registry. METHODS: Data were collected in 27 ECNM centers. We analyzed potential triggers (Hymenoptera venoms, food, drug, inhalant and others) and risk factors at diagnosis and during follow-up. The study group consisted of 2485 adults with mastocytosis, 1379 women (55.5%) and 1106 men (44.5%). Median age was 48.2 years (range 18-91 years). RESULTS: Nine hundred and forty eight patients (38.1%) reported one or more HR`. Most common triggers were Hymenoptera venoms in cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) and indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM), whereas in advanced SM (advSM), most common elicitors were drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and penicillin. In multivariate analyses, tryptase level < 90 ng/mL, <15% infiltration by mast cells in bone marrow biopsy-sections, and diagnosis of ISM were identified as independent risk factors for HR. For drug-induced HR, prominent risk factors were advSM and high tryptase levels. New reactions were observed in 4.8% of all patients during 4 years follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: HR are mainly triggered by Hymenoptera venoms in patients with CM and ISM and by drugs in patients with advSM. Tryptase levels <90 ng/mL, mast cell bone marrow infiltration <15%, and WHO category ISM are predictors of HR. New HR occur in 4.8% of all patients within 4 years.

Serum chemistry profiling and prognostication in systemic mastocytosis: a registry-based study of the ECNM and GREM.

Certain laboratory abnormalities correlate with subvariants of systemic mastocytosis (SM) and are often prognostically relevant. To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of individual serum chemistry parameters in SM, 2607 patients enrolled within the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) and 575 patients enrolled within the German Registry on Eosinophils and Mast Cells (GREM) were analyzed. For screening and diagnosis of SM, tryptase was identified as the most specific serum parameter. For differentiation between indolent and advanced SM (AdvSM), the following serum parameters were most relevant: tryptase, alkaline phosphatase (AP), ß2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin, vitamin B12, and C-reactive protein (P<0.001). With regard to subvariants of AdvSM, an elevated LDH ≥260U/L was associated with multi-lineage expansion (leukocytosis, r=0.37, P<0.001; monocytosis, r=0.26, P<0.001) and the presence of an associated myeloid neoplasm (P<0.001), whereas tryptase levels were highest in mast cell leukemia (MCL vs. non-MCL, 308 µg/L vs. 146 µg/L, P=0.003). Based on multivariable analysis, the hazard-risk weighted assignment of 1 point to lactate dehydrogenase (HR 2.1 [95% CI 1.1-4.0], P=0.018) and 1.5 points each to ß2-microglobulin (HR 2.7 [95% CI 1.4-5.4], P=0.004) and albumin (HR 3.3 [95% CI 1.7-6.5], P=0.001) delineated a highly predictive three-tier risk classification system (0 points, 8.1 years vs. 1 point, 2.5 years, ≥1.5 points, 1.7 years; P<0.001). Moreover, serum chemistry parameters enabled further stratification of IPSM-AdvSM1/2 risk-score classified patients (P=0.027). In conclusion, serum chemistry profiling is a crucial tool in the clinical practice supporting diagnosis and prognostication of SM and its subvariants.

Prognostic Impact of Organomegaly in Mastocytosis: An Analysis of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Organomegaly, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and/or lymphadenopathy, are important diagnostic and prognostic features in patients with cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) or systemic mastocytosis (SM). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and prognostic impact of 1 or more organomegalies on clinical course and survival in patients with CM/SM. METHODS: Therefore, 3155 patients with CM (n = 1002 [32%]) or SM (n = 2153 [68%]) enrolled within the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) was adversely affected by the number of organomegalies (OS: #0 vs #1 hazard ratio [HR], 4.9; 95% CI, 3.4-7.1, P < .001; #1 vs #2 HR, 2.1, 95% CI, 1.4-3.1, P < .001; #2 vs #3 HR, 1.7, 95% CI, 1.2-2.5, P = .004). Lymphadenopathy was frequently detected in patients with smoldering SM (SSM, 18 of 60 [30%]) or advanced SM (AdvSM, 137 of 344 [40%]). Its presence confered an inferior outcome in patients with AdvSM compared with patients with AdvSM without lymphadenopathy (median OS, 3.8 vs 2.6 years; HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; P = .003). OS was not different between patients having organomegaly with either ISM or SSM (median, 25.5 years vs not reached; P = .435). At time of disease progression, a new occurrence of any organomegaly was observed in 17 of 40 (43%) patients with ISM, 4 of 10 (40%) patients with SSM, and 33 of 86 (38%) patients with AdvSM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Organomegalies including lymphadenopathy are often found in SSM and AdvSM. ISM with organomegaly has a similar course and prognosis compared with SSM. The number of organomegalies is adversely associated with OS. A new occurrence of organomegaly in all variants of SM may indicate disease progression.

Mast cell leukemia: clinical and molecular features and survival outcomes of patients in the ECNM Registry.

Mast cell leukemia (MCL) is a rare subtype of systemic mastocytosis defined by ≥20% mast cells (MC) on a bone marrow aspirate. We evaluated 92 patients with MCL from the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis registry. Thirty-one (34%) patients had a diagnosis of MCL with an associated hematologic neoplasm (MCL-AHN). Chronic MCL (lack of C-findings) comprised 14% of patients, and only 4.5% had "leukemic MCL" (≥10% circulating MCs). KIT D816V was found in 62/85 (73%) evaluable patients; 9 (11%) individuals exhibited alternative KIT mutations, and no KIT variants were detected in 14 (17%) subjects. Ten evaluable patients (17%) had an abnormal karyotype and the poor-risk SRSF2, ASXL1, and RUNX1 (S/A/R) mutations were identified in 16/36 (44%) patients who underwent next-generation sequencing. Midostaurin was the most common therapy administered to 65% of patients and 45% as first-line therapy. The median overall survival (OS) was 1.6 years. In multivariate analysis (S/A/R mutations excluded owing to low event rates), a diagnosis of MCL-AHN (hazard ratio [HR], 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-13.0; P = .001) and abnormal karyotype (HR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.4-13.3; P = .02) were associated with inferior OS; KIT D816V positivity (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.11-0.98; P = .04) and midostaurin treatment (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.08-0.72; P = .008) were associated with superior OS. These data provide the most comprehensive snapshot of the clinicopathologic, molecular, and treatment landscape of MCL to date, and should help further inform subtyping and prognostication of MCL.

Refined diagnostic criteria for bone marrow mastocytosis: a proposal of the European competence network on mastocytosis.

In the current classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), bone marrow mastocytosis (BMM) is a provisional variant of indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) defined by bone marrow involvement and absence of skin lesions. However, no additional diagnostic criteria for BMM have been proposed. Within the registry dataset of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis, we compared characteristics and outcomes of 390 patients with BMM and 1175 patients with typical ISM. BMM patients were significantly older, predominantly male, had lower tryptase and lower burden of neoplastic mast cells, and displayed a higher frequency of allergic reactions, mainly triggered by Hymenoptera, than patients with typical ISM. The estimated 10-year progression-free survival of BMM and typical ISM was 95.9% and 92.6%, respectively. In BMM patients defined by WHO-based criteria, the presence of one B-Finding and tryptase level ≥125 ng/mL were identified as risk factors for progression in multivariate analyses. BMM patients without any of these risk factors were found to have better progression-free survival (p < 0.05) and better overall survival (p < 0.05) than other ISM patients. These data support the proposal to define BMM as a separate SM variant characterized by SM criteria, absence of skin lesions, absence of B-Findings, and tryptase levels <125 ng/mL.

Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hand eczema.

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disorder. Health care providers need continuously updated information about the management of hand eczema to ensure best treatment for their patients. OBJECTIVES: To update the European Society of Contact Dermatitis guideline on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment on of hand eczema. METHOD: The Guideline Development Group (GDG) was established on behalf of the ESCD. A call for interest was launched via the ESCD website and via the ESCD members' mailing list. Appraisal of the evidence for therapeutic and preventive interventions was applied and a structured method of developing consensus was used and moderated by an external methodologist. The final guideline was approved by the ESCD executive committee and was in external review on the ESCD webpage for 1 month. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved for several statements and management strategies. CONCLUSION: The updated guideline should improve management of hand eczema.

Cytogenetic and molecular aberrations and worse outcome for male patients in systemic mastocytosis.

In systemic mastocytosis (SM), the clinical features and survival vary greatly. Patient-related factors determining the outcome in SM are largely unknown. Methods: We examined the impact of sex on the clinical features, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in 3403 patients with mastocytosis collected in the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM). The impact of cytogenetic and molecular genetic aberrations on sex differences was analyzed in a subset of patients. Results: Of all patients enrolled, 55.3% were females. However, a male predominance was found in a subset of advanced SM (AdvSM) patients, namely SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm (SM-AHN, 70%; p < 0.001). Correspondingly, organomegaly (male: 23% vs. female: 13%, p = 0.007) was more, whereas skin involvement (male: 71% vs. female: 86%, p = 0.001) was less frequent in males. In all patients together, OS (p < 0.0001) was significantly inferior in males, and also within the WHO sub-categories indolent SM, aggressive SM (ASM) and SM-AHN. PFS was significantly (p = 0.0002) worse in males when all patients were grouped together; due to low numbers of events, this significance persisted only in the subcategory smoldering SM. Finally, prognostically relevant cytogenetic abnormalities (10% vs. 5%, p = 0.006) or molecular aberrations (SRSF2/ASXL1/RUNX1 profile; 63% vs. 40%, p = 0.003) were more frequently present in males. Conclusions: Male sex has a major impact on clinical features, disease progression, and survival in mastocytosis. Male patients have an inferior survival, which seems related to the fact that they more frequently develop a multi-mutated AdvSM associated with a high-risk molecular background.

Comparison of the Safety Profiles of 3 Different Hymenoptera Venom Immunotherapy Protocols: A Retrospective 2-Center Study of 143 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is highly effective and the treatment of choice for patients with a history of systemic anaphylactic reactions to a Hymenoptera sting. It has been assumed that VIT protocols with a rapid dose increase during the induction phase are associated with a higher frequency of systemic reactions (SR); however, study data addressing this issue are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the safety of 3 different Hymenoptera VIT protocols (half-day ultra-rush, 3-day rush, 3-week cluster). METHODS: This retrospective 2-center study included 143 Hymenoptera venom-allergic patients, who underwent 147 VIT procedures during the years 2015-2018. Twenty cluster, 75 rush, and 52 ultra-rush VIT protocols were performed with honeybee (54 protocols) and wasp (93 protocols) venom. All documented side effects were classified into large local and SR (Ring and Messmer classification). RESULTS: SR were observed during 11 (7.5%) VIT procedures and did not exceed severity grade II. SR occurred more frequently in cluster compared to accelerated protocols. This result was observed for both honeybee (cluster: 25%, rush: 8.7%, and ultra-rush: 15.8%) and wasp VIT (cluster: 12.5%, rush: 0%, and ultra-rush: 6.1%), though the differences were statistically significant only in the wasp VIT subgroup. Honeybee venom elicited more SR than wasp venom (14.8 and 3.2%, respectively, p = 0.01). The risk for SR did not depend on age, sex, concomitant antihypertensive medication, hypertryptasemia, or severity of the index sting reaction. CONCLUSION: Accelerated VIT protocols, namely, rush and ultra-rush protocols are safe therapeutic options for Hymenoptera venom-allergic patients and displayed fewer SR than cluster VIT protocols in our study.

Barrier damaging effects of n-propanol in occlusion-modified tandem repeated irritation test: Modulation by exposure factors and atopic skin disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies provide evidence for significant and previously underestimated barrier damaging effects of repeated exposure to 60% n-propanol in healthy skin in vivo. OBJECTIVES: To investigate further the cumulative effects of a range of n-propanol concentrations relevant at the workplace in healthy and atopic dermatitis (AD) individuals, and study the modulation of the outcomes by co-exposure and host-related factors. METHODS: Healthy adult and AD volunteers were exposed to n-propanol concentrations from 30% to 75% in occlusion-modified tandem repeated irritation test with measurements of erythema, transepidermal water loss, capacitance, and the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels at baseline and after 96 hours. RESULTS: n-Propanol exerted significant barrier damaging effects even at the lowest concentration in both groups. Exposure to all n-propanol concentrations significantly reduced the NMF levels. Preceding low-grade trauma by occlusion/water exposure reduced the skin irritation threshold in both groups. The differences in the severity of the barrier function impairment after exposure to the same concentrations under the same conditions between the AD and control groups were significant. CONCLUSIONS: The negative effects of cumulative exposure to n-propanol in healthy and atopic skin shown in the study suggest the need for critical re-evaluation of its irritant properties in vivo.

Skin Care Products: Age-Appropriate Cosmetics.

In order to maintain skin in "good condition" one can use cosmetic products. Importantly, those skin care products should fulfil specific requirements for specific life phases and specific skin conditions. In this review, we focused on 2 different age groups - namely, infants and the elderly - as well as on 2 specific skin conditions occurring in both age groups - very dry skin (Xerosis) and hyperhydrated skin (diaper rash). The goal in both conditions should be to maintain skin surface in its physiological acidic state, which is in turn crucial for the permeability barrier function, stratum corneum integrity/cohesion and antimicrobial defense. Skin care products formulated with an effective buffer system at a more acidic pH, for example 4, may be the best option to improve the acid mantle and skin barrier function and thus keep the skin in "good condition."

Specific barrier response profiles after experimentally induced skin irritation in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Recently, natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) and corneocyte surface topography were suggested as biomarkers for irritant dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate how exposure to different irritants influences corneocyte surface topography, NMF levels and the barrier function of human skin in vivo. METHODS: Eight healthy adult volunteers were exposed to aqueous solutions of 60% n-propanol, 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), 0.15% sodium hydroxide, and 2.0% acetic acid, and distilled water, in a repeated irritation test over a period of 96 hours. Erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, the dermal texture index (DTI) and NMF levels were measured at baseline, and after 24 and 96 hours. RESULTS: SLS and sodium hydroxide had the most pronounced effects on erythema and TEWL. Although n-propanol caused only slight changes in TEWL and erythema, it showed pronounced effects on skin hydration, NMF levels, and the DTI. NMF was the only parameter that was significantly altered by all investigated irritants. The changes in the DTI were inversely associated with NMF levels and skin hydration. CONCLUSION: Skin barrier impairment and the inflammatory response are irritant-specific, emphasizing the need for a multiparametric approach to the study of skin irritation. NMF levels seem to be the most sensitive parameter in detecting irritant-induced skin barrier alterations.

Stand-alone Emollient Treatment Reduces Flares After Discontinuation of Topical Steroid Treatment in Atopic Dermatitis: A Double-blind, Randomized, Vehicle-controlled, Left-right Comparison Study.

Prevention of the flares is a main goal in the long-term treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Therefore we investigated the efficacy of a water-in-oil emollient, containing licochalcone A, omega-6-fatty acids, ceramide 3 and glycerol, for prevention of the flares in adults with mild to moderately severe AD, treated with topical steroids, that led to clearing of the inflammatory lesions and had been discontinued prior to inclusion. The study was a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, left-right comparison test with the number of relapses, defined as re-occurrence of erythema for at least 3 consecutive days, considered the primary outcome. Compared with the vehicle, the active formulation significantly reduced the number of relapses and maintained the barrier homeostasis of the respective arm. To the best of knowledge, this is the first study to show prevention of the AD flares by the use of stand-alone emollient treatment, based on comparison with the corresponding vehicle while excluding concomitant/rescue medications.

Current knowledge on biomarkers for contact sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis.

Contact sensitization is common and affects up to 20% of the general population. The clinical manifestation of contact sensitization is allergic contact dermatitis. This is a clinical expression that is sometimes difficult to distinguish from other types of dermatitis, for example irritant and atopic dermatitis. Several studies have examined the pathogenesis and severity of allergic contact dermatitis by measuring the absence or presence of various biomarkers. In this review, we provide a non-systematic overview of biomarkers that have been studied in allergic contact dermatitis. These include genetic variations and mutations, inflammatory mediators, alarmins, proteases, immunoproteomics, lipids, natural moisturizing factors, tight junctions, and antimicrobial peptides. We conclude that, despite the enormous amount of data, convincing specific biomarkers for allergic contact dermatitis are yet to be described.

Barrier Function and Natural Moisturizing Factor Levels After Cumula-tive Exposure to Short-chain Aliphatic Alcohols and Detergents: Results of Occlusion-modified Tandem Repeated Irritation Test.

Alcohol-based disinfectants and detergents are common workplace factors for irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Though occlusion and water are relevant co-exposures, the tandem effects of occlusion and sequential exposure to alcohols and detergents have not been studied. We therefore investigated the combined effects of occlusion with water and repeated exposure to n-propanol and/or sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) in an occlusion-modified tandem irritation test. The outcomes included visual scoring, measurement of erythema, transepidermal water loss, capacitance and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels. Occlusion abrogated the skin barrier function and significantly enhanced the irritant-induced barrier damaging effects. The NMF levels of all irritant-exposed fields decreased significantly compared with the non-exposed fields; occlusion enhanced the decrease in NMF. Although SLS exerted more pronounced effects on the measured parameters, the barrier function impairment and NMF decrease after exposure to n-propanol in workplace-relevant concentrations, found in the study, confirm the significance of short-chain aliphatic alcohols for occupational ICD.

Irritants and Skin Barrier Function.

The barrier response to irritant challenge involves complex biologic events and can be modulated by various environmental, exposure and host-related factors. Irritant damage to the epidermal barrier elicits a cascade of homeostatic or pathologic responses that could be investigated by both in vitro and in vivo methods providing different information at biochemical and functional level. The present chapter summarizes the changes in key barrier function parameters following irritant exposure with focus on experimental controlled in vivo human skin studies.

Effect of glove occlusion on the skin barrier.

Wet work tasks are the most common exposures leading to occupational irritant contact dermatitis. Use of liquid-proof gloves is recommended when performing wet work, however, gloves may also contribute to impairment of the skin barrier and development of irritant contact dermatitis. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the effects of glove occlusion on skin barrier function. The PubMed database was searched up to 1 February 2015 for articles on the association between glove occlusion and skin barrier function, including human studies only and in English. Only experimental studies including assessment of the skin barrier function were included in the data analysis. Thirteen articles were identified, 8 with focus on occlusion alone, 7 with focus on occlusion in combination with irritant exposure (some overlapping), and 2 field studies. In conclusion, data from the literature showed that the negative effect of occlusion in itself is limited, and that only extensive and long-term occlusion will cause barrier impairment. However, studies investigating combined effect of occlusion and exposure to soaps/detergents indicate that occlusion significantly enhances the skin barrier damage caused by detergents/soaps in a dose-response fashion.

Barrier function and natural moisturizing factor levels after cumulative exposure to a fruit-derived organic acid and a detergent: different outcomes in atopic and healthy skin and relevance for occupational contact dermatitis in the food industry.

BACKGROUND: Fruit-derived organic compounds and detergents are relevant exposure factors for occupational contact dermatitis in the food industry. Although individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) are at risk for development of occupational contact dermatitis, there have been no controlled studies on the effects of repeated exposure to multiple irritants, relevant for the food industry, in atopic skin. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the outcomes of repeated exposure to a fruit-derived organic acid and a detergent in AD compared to healthy volunteers. METHODS: The volunteers were exposed to 2.0% acetic acid (AcA) and/or 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in controlled tandem repeated irritation test. The outcomes were assessed by measurements of erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels. RESULTS: In the AD volunteers, repeated AcA exposure led to barrier disruption and significant TEWL increase; no significant differences after the same exposure in the healthy controls were found. Repeated exposure to SLS and the irritant tandems enhanced the reactions and resulted in a significantly higher increase in TEWL in the AD compared to the control group. Cumulative irritant exposure reduced the NMF levels in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the severity of irritant-induced barrier impairment in atopic individuals contribute to the risk for occupational contact dermatitis in result of multiple exposures to food-derived irritants and detergents.

Skin barrier integrity and natural moisturising factor levels after cumulative dermal exposure to alkaline agents in atopic dermatitis.

Dermal exposure to alkaline agents may lead to skin barrier damage and irritant contact dermatitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cumulative exposure to 0.5% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and 0.15% NaOH on the barrier function and natural moisturising factor (NMF) levels in atopic dermatitis and healthy volunteers with known filaggrin genotype. The skin response was monitored by measurement of erythema and transepidermal water loss. The stratum corneum NMF levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Repeated exposure to 0.5% SLS and/or 0.15% NaOH in atopic dermatitis resulted in more severe impairment of the skin barrier function. Cumulative exposure to the irritants reduced significantly NMF in both the atopic and healthy controls group. The pronounced decrease of NMF after repeated single and sequential irritant exposure may be a pathogenetically relevant factor for development of chronic irritant contact dermatitis in both healthy and atopic individuals.

Distinct barrier integrity phenotypes in filaggrin-related atopic eczema following sequential tape stripping and lipid profiling.

BACKGROUND: Filaggrin gene (FLG) loss-of-function mutations have been shown to represent the strongest so far known genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis (AD). Whereas the barrier characteristics in FLG mutation carriers under baseline conditions have been investigated, there are only limited data on the permeability barrier function in filaggrin-AD under compromised conditions. AIM: We investigated: (i) stratum corneum (SC) integrity/cohesion; (ii) barrier recovery after controlled mechanical and irritant-induced barrier abrogation; and (iii) the lipid composition of the non-lesional and lesional skin of AD patients harbouring the European R501X, 2282del4, 3702delG, R2447X or S3247X FLG variants. METHODS: Thirty-seven AD patients (14 FLG mutation carriers and 23 non-carriers) and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. Stratum corneum integrity/cohesion was assessed by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and amount of removed protein following sequential tape stripping. Barrier recovery was monitored by repeated measurements of TEWL and erythema up to 96 h after barrier abrogation. Samples for lipid analysis were obtained from non-lesional and lesional skin using the cyanoacrylate method. RESULTS: Tape stripping revealed distinct genotype-related impairment of the SC integrity/cohesion. No differences in the rate of barrier recovery among the groups were found. The SC lipid analysis revealed significant differences regarding the percentage amount of cholesterol, ceramide/cholesterol ratio and triglycerides in the uninvolved skin as well as the amounts of free fatty acids, CER[EOH] and triglycerides in the skin lesions of the AD FLG mutation carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for discernible FLG-related barrier integrity phenotypes in atopic eczema.

Increased sensitivity of patch testing by standardized tape stripping beforehand: a multicentre diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: As a modification of patch testing, the strip patch test was established to obtain more sensitive and reliable test results. Comparative data on diagnostic accuracy for both tests are missing. OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of strip patch tests and patch tests in detecting sensitizations in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis by using patient history as the reference standard. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a multicentre, prospective, investigator-blinded study 790 patients were enrolled. The defined reference standard was established prior to patch testing. Patch tests were performed with nickel sulfate, potassium dichromate, and lanolin alcohol. Duplicate tests were simultaneously performed on both sides of the back, of which one randomly chosen side was tape stripped beforehand, according to a standardized procedure. Primary outcome was the difference in sensitivity between strip patch test and patch test. RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty-seven patients were included in the analysis. Strip patch tests detected considerably more sensitization to nickel sulfate and potassium dichromate than patch tests: differences of sensitivities were 16.4% (95% CI, 8.7-24.1%) for nickel sulfate and 25.0% (95% CI, 8.9-41.0%) for potassium dichromate, both favouring the strip patch test. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized strip patch test proved to be accurate and clinically safe and is promising to improve diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis beyond the patch test.