Progression to detrusor muscle invasion during urothelial carcinoma surveillance is associated with poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate survival in patients after radical cystectomy (RC) who presented with non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma and progressed to muscle invasion during surveillance. Our secondary objective was to evaluate the association between clinical factors before RC and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 981 consecutive Mayo Clinic RC patients without a history of radiation or systemic chemotherapy were reviewed. Of these, 190 had RC after they progressed from non-muscle invasive disease to muscle invasion (progressed to ≥pT2). These patients were compared to 310 patients who had RC before muscle invasion (≤pT1), and 481 patients who had muscle invasion at initial presentation (presented with ≥pT2). Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test, while adjusted analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS: Patients who progressed to muscle invasion on surveillance had a higher risk of death than patients who initially presented with muscle invasion (overall survival hazard ratio [HR] 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 1.5). The estimated 5-year cancer-specific survival was 85.4% for patients presenting with ≤pT1, 52.9% for patients who progressed to ≥pT2, and 62.4% for patients who presented with ≥pT2 (P < 0.001). The corresponding 5-year overall survival rates were 70.0%, 42.1%, and 49.5% (P < 0.001). Of the patients who initially presented with non-muscle-invasive disease, progression to muscle invasion was associated with increased risk of cancer-specific death (adjusted HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.6, 3.5). Lack of information about patients who presented without muscle invasion and never received RC is the major limitation of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Despite close surveillance, many patients who progress to muscle invasion will die from bladder cancer. Patients who progress to muscle invasion on surveillance seem to have particularly aggressive disease and may benefit from multimodal treatments.

Downstaging to non-invasive urothelial carcinoma is associated with improved outcome following radical cystectomy for patients with cT2 disease.

INTRODUCTION: Pathologic stage is a critically important prognostic factor after radical cystectomy (RC) that is used to guide the use of secondary therapies. However, the risk of disease recurrence, for patients clinically diagnosed with muscle-invasive tumors who are found not to have muscle-invasive disease at RC are poorly defined. Therefore, we reviewed the long-term outcomes in patients who were downstaged to non-invasive urothelial carcinoma at time of RC. METHODS: We identified 1,177 consecutive patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who underwent radical cystectomy at our institution between 1980 and 1999 without neoadjuvant therapy. Postoperative disease recurrence and survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the impact of pathologic stage on survival. RESULTS: Pathologic downstaging to non-muscle invasive disease was identified in 538 (45.7 %) patients. The 10-year cancer-specific survival was 84.1, 77.4, 71.1 and 58.5 % for those with pT0, pTis, pT1 and pT2 tumors, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the risk of cancer-specific mortality was significantly decreased for patients with non-muscle invasive disease than those with organ-confined muscle invasion (RR-0.39; p = 0.002). There was no difference in disease-specific mortality among patients who had non-invasive (pT0, pTa, or pTis) disease (p = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Downstaging from clinical muscle-invasive bladder cancer to non-muscle invasive disease at RC is associated with a significant reduction in cancer-specific mortality. However, even patients with residual non-muscle invasive disease may suffer disease recurrence and require continued surveillance after surgery.

Long-term complications of conduit urinary diversion.

PURPOSE: We evaluated long-term surgical complications and clinical outcomes in a large group of patients treated with conduit urinary diversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 1,057 patients who underwent radical cystectomy with conduit urinary diversion using ileum or colon at our institution from 1980 to 1998 with complete followup information. Patients were followed for long-term clinical outcomes and analyzed for the incidence of diversion specific complications. RESULTS: A total of 844 patients died at a median of 4.1 years (range 0.1 to 28.1) following cystectomy. Median followup of the surviving 213 patients was 15.5 years (range 0.3 to 29.1). There were 643 (60.8%) patients with 1,453 complications directly attributable to the urinary diversion performed with a mean of 2.3 complications per patient. Bowel complications were the most common, occurring in 215 patients (20.3%), followed by renal complications in 213 (20.2%), infectious complications in 174 (16.5%), stomal complications in 163 (15.4%) and urolithiasis in 162 (15.3%). The least common were metabolic abnormalities, which occurred in 135 patients (12.8%), and structural complications, which occurred in 122 (11.5%). Increasing age at cystectomy (HR 1.21, p <0.001), increasing Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (HR 1.23, p = 0.02) and recent era of surgery (HR 1.68, p <0.001) were significantly associated with a higher incidence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Conduit urinary diversion is associated with a high overall complication rate but a low reoperation rate. Long-term followup of these patients is necessary to closely monitor for potential complications from the urinary diversion that can occur decades later.

Significance of distal ureteral margin at radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Urothelial carcinoma develops from a diffusely susceptible mucosa and, thus, patients who undergo cystectomy are at risk for upper tract recurrence. Management of the distal ureter at cystectomy remains controversial and the impact of a sequential sectioning strategy remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 1,397 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for nonmetastatic urothelial carcinoma from 1980 to 1998. All patients underwent frozen section analysis of the distal ureteral specimen. When positive, additional specimens were obtained. We evaluated the impact of a positive ureteral margin and the effect of ultimately obtaining a negative margin after sequential resection. RESULTS: At last followup 432 patients (31%) had died of urothelial carcinoma a median of 1.8 years after cystectomy. Median followup in the 315 patients alive at last evaluation was 14.0 years. A total of 178 patients (12.7%) had a positive initial ureteral margin and only 31 (2.2%) had a positive final resection margin. Associations of margin status with overall and cancer specific survival were not statistically significant. Of 1,397 patients 69 (4.9%) experienced upper tract recurrence at a median of 3.1 years. Positive initial margin status and final margin status were associated with upper tract recurrence (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with positive ureteral margins at cystectomy are at increased risk for upper tract recurrence. With a serial sectioning strategy most positive initial margins can be converted to negative final margins. Patients who undergo conversion to a negative final margin with serial sectioning are at decreased risk for upper tract disease.

Results of patch testing to personal care product allergens in a standard series and a supplemental cosmetic series: an analysis of 945 patients from the Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, 2000-2007.

BACKGROUND: Patch testing to a standard screening series of allergens in combination with supplemental cosmetic allergens is often used to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis due to personal care products. OBJECTIVE: To report results of patch testing to skin care product allergens contained in a standard series and a supplemental cosmetic series and to compare efficacy of this combined series in detecting positive reactions to personal care product allergens with the efficacy of various standard screening series. METHODS: Positive reaction rates to skin care product allergens were tabulated for patients who underwent patch testing to both standard and cosmetic series allergens at Mayo Clinic between 2000 and 2007. Data were compared with skin care allergens detected on standard screening series, including the thin-layer rapid use epicutaneous (TRUE) test. RESULTS: Of 945 patch-tested patients, 68.4% had at least one positive reaction and 47.3% had at least two positive reactions. Also, 49.4% of patients reacted to at least one preservative; 31.2% reacted to at least one fragrance/botanical additive. Compared with use of our standard series and cosmetic series, use of the TRUE test would have missed 22.5% of patients with preservative allergy, 11.3% with fragrance/botanical allergy, and 17.3% with vehicle allergy. LIMITATIONS: Various allergens tested over time, patch test reading by residents, and lack of confirmation of allergen in personal care products. CONCLUSION: Standard patch-test screening series miss a substantial number of patients with skin care product ingredient allergy.

Results of Goeckerman treatment for psoriasis in children: a 21-year retrospective review.

Goeckerman treatment has been used for the management of widespread psoriasis in children for several decades at Mayo Clinic. We aimed to review our institutional experience with the effectiveness of Goeckerman treatment for psoriasis in children. We retrospectively reviewed the records of pediatric patients who underwent Goeckerman treatment over a 21-year period (1983-2003). The main outcome measure was improvement in psoriasis. During the study period, 65 children received Goeckerman treatment for predominantly widespread, recalcitrant psoriasis. The mean age was 11.6 years (range, 3 mos to 18 yrs), and the female-to-male ratio was 2:1. Psoriasis improved in all patients: 55 patients (85%) had >80% clearance of their psoriasis. The only adverse effect was folliculitis, occurring in 27 patients (42%). Mean duration of follow-up was 2.6 years (range, 17 days-18.2 yrs); average duration of remission was 2.6 years (range, 2 mos-12.79 yrs). Goeckerman treatment is an effective treatment for widespread psoriasis in children.

Expression and significance of androgen receptor coactivators in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is approximately three times more common in men than women. While the etiology for this gender difference in incidence remains unknown, a role for androgen receptor (AR) signaling has been suggested. The mechanisms by which AR activity is regulated in UC cells, however, are largely elusive. Here, we explore the significance of coregulators that are critical for the formation of a functional AR transcriptional complex, in UC cells. Using two AR-positive UC cell lines, TCC-SUP and UMUC3, we demonstrate the expression of the coactivators NCOA1, NCOA2, NCOA3, CREBBP, and EP300 in UC cells. small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the AR or any of these coactivators markedly impacted cell viability and abrogated androgen-dependent cell proliferation. Noteworthy, contrary to AR-positive prostate cancer cells, expression of these AR-associated coactivators was not androgen regulated in UC cells. To assess the clinical relevance of coactivator expression, we performed immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections from 55 patients with UC of the bladder. We found that while 24 out of 55 (44%) of tumors expressed the AR, each of the coactivators was expressed by 85-100% of the bladder cancers. Moreover, we noted a significant downregulation of NCOA1 expression in tumors versus adjacent, non-tumor bladder urothelium, with a mean of 68% (range 0-100) of tumor cells demonstrating NCOA1 staining versus a mean of 81% (range 0-90) of non-tumor cells (P=0.03). Taken together, our data suggest an important role for AR-associated coactivators in UC and point toward differences in the regulation of AR activity between bladder and prostate cancer cells.

T-cell coregulatory molecule expression in urothelial cell carcinoma: clinicopathologic correlations and association with survival.

PURPOSE: Aberrant expression of T-cell coregulatory molecules has been investigated as a mechanism by which certain cancers may evade host immune surveillance. We evaluated expression of the T-cell coregulators B7-H1, B7-H3, and PD-1 in urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the bladder. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry for B7-H1, B7-H3, and PD-1 was done on paraffin-embedded sections from 318 consecutive patients with UCC who underwent radical cystectomy. Expression was correlated with clinicopathologic outcomes and postoperative survival. RESULTS: B7-H3 was widely expressed in UCC, as 222 of 314 (70.7%) tumors showed positive staining. Expression of B7-H3 in UCC was significantly increased compared with adjacent, nontumor urothelium, as a median of 70% of tumor cells expressed B7-H3, compared with 20% of cells in nontumor specimens (P < 0.001). The increase in B7-H3 expression was independent of tumor stage (P = 0.13). Expression of B7-H1 by UCC tumors (P < 0.001) and PD-1 by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (P = 0.012) were significantly associated with increased pathologic stage. Patients who had received intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin before cystectomy tended to show increased expression of B7-H3 (P = 0.023) and PD-1 (P = 0.071) but were less likely to express B7-H1 (P = 0.027). Moreover, for the subset of patients with organ-confined disease (n = 167), B7-H1 expression independently predicted all-cause mortality after cystectomy (hazard ratio, 3.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-5.79; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: B7-H3 is highly expressed in UCC across tumor stages, whereas B7-H1 and PD-1 expression are associated with advanced disease. B7-H1 expression predicts mortality after cystectomy for patients with organ-confined tumors. These molecules may represent novel diagnostic or prognostic markers, as well as therapeutic targets, for patients with UCC.

Functional and oncological outcomes after orthotopic neobladder reconstruction in women.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction (ONR) in women, highlighting functional and oncological outcomes, as ONR has been used increasingly for urinary diversion in women after radical cystectomy (RC), largely due to a better understanding of the natural history of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) and of the anatomy underlying the female continence mechanism, but defining the safety and long-term efficacy of ONR remain important to expanding its use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified 59 women who had RC with ONR between 1995 and 2006 at the Mayo Clinic. Their records were reviewed for clinicopathological demographics, and functional and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: The median (range) age at surgery of the women was 62 (20-82) years, and the median follow-up was 29.2 (1-141) months. Fifty-three women had RC for malignant disease, including UCC in 47. Five women (8.5%) required resection of the anterior vaginal wall during surgery, while 39 (66%) had concurrent hysterectomy. One patient had a positive surgical margin, at the left distal ureter, on final pathology. Thirteen (22%) patients had perioperative complications, including two (3%) who required reoperation. In addition, three patients (5%) developed a neobladder-vaginal fistula after RC with ONR, requiring surgical repair. At the last follow-up, daytime urinary continence (defined as needing no pads) was reported by 44/49 (90%) patients, while 28/49 (57%) had achieved continence at night. Seventeen (31%) patients required intermittent self-catheterization to facilitate emptying of the neobladder. Fifteen (28%) women had recurrence of disease, at a median of 8 (2-36) months after ONR, including seven (13%) who developed a pelvic recurrence. Twelve (20%) patients died during the follow-up, with four (8%) dying from UCC at a median of 14 (11-65) months after surgery. CONCLUSION: ONR provides a safe and effective option for urinary diversion in women, with oncological and functional outcomes similar to those for men. Thus, the technique remains a preferred option for urinary diversion in appropriately selected women treated with RC.

Delayed patch test reading after 5 days: the Mayo Clinic experience.

BACKGROUND: Some patients may have delayed allergic patch test reactions that are not identified with a typical 5-day reading protocol. OBJECTIVE: To identify allergens with delayed-positive reactions and to determine whether a late reading (day 7-9) can be substituted for the day-5 reading. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who underwent patch testing for suspected allergic contact dermatitis from October 1997 through December 2006 and returned for delayed readings between days 7 and 10 or beyond. (This cohort was predominantly patients with suspected allergies to metals and corticosteroids). RESULTS: A total of 36,064 individual reactions (471 allergens, 372 patients) were interpreted on day 5 and at least once during days 7 through 21. We analyzed the 170 allergens that were each tested in at least 50 patients. The 4 allergens with the highest percentage of delayed-positive reactions were gold sodium thiosulfate 0.5% (delayed-positive reactions in 22/353 patients), dodecyl gallate 0.25% (6/105), palladium chloride 2% (8/194), and neomycin sulfate 20% (10/253). We observed a low number of delayed-positive readings for p-phenylenediamine 1% (1/251) and for corticosteroids. Reactions to certain preservative and fragrance allergens dissipated after the day-5 reading. Most reactions that dissipated after day 5 were mild, whereas the reactions that became apparent after day 5 were strong. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study. Most patients had suspected allergies to metals and corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Late patch test readings (day 7 or beyond) were useful when interpreting reactions to metals and topical antibiotics, but it was not useful in the diagnosis of reactions to other allergens, including topical corticosteroids. Because reactions to certain fragrance and preservative allergens may dissipate after 5 days, patch test reactions therefore are optimally read at days 3 and 5, but an additional reading on day 7 or beyond is useful if patch tests to metals and topical antibiotics are performed.

Results of patch testing to a corticosteroid series: a retrospective review of 1188 patients during 6 years at Mayo Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to topical corticosteroids is more common than previously realized. To detect this allergy, a corticosteroid series is used for patch testing in addition to corticosteroid screens on a standard series. OBJECTIVE: We sought to review our experience with patch testing to corticosteroid series. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patch testing to our corticosteroid series over 6 years (January 1, 2000-December 31, 2005). RESULTS: Of 1188 patients patch tested to corticosteroid series, 127 (10.69%) had allergic reaction to at least one corticosteroid; 56 reacted to multiple corticosteroids. Rates of allergic patch test reaction to 19,611 individual corticosteroids were 0.41% to 5.03%. Rates of reaction to corticosteroid groups were 1.10% to 5.72%; concomitant reactions between groups were noted. Present screens on our standard series identified 74% of those detected on the corticosteroid series; tixocortol pivalate alone detected less than 50%. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include that this study was retrospective and the possible interobserver variation in interpretation of patch tests. CONCLUSION: In patients suggested to have corticosteroid allergy, patch testing confirms allergy in 10.69%; allergy is often to multiple corticosteroids and across groups. Screens on a standard series may detect 74% of those detected on a corticosteroid series.

Patients' perceptions of the usefulness and outcome of patch testing.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown the effect of allergic contact dermatitis on quality of life, but few address the impact of patch testing. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine patient satisfaction with patch testing, patients' perceptions of its usefulness, dermatitis outcomes, and recall of allergens. METHODS: After patch testing, surveys were mailed to 1453 patients. RESULTS: Response rate was 52.1%, 757 surveys returned: 518 women (68.4%) and 239 men (31.6%). More than 75% (578) of respondents were at least "somewhat satisfied" with the process; 51% (388) were "very satisfied." More than half (430, 58.3%) reported improved dermatitis. The 580 patients who had positive reactions remembered a mean of 51.0% of allergens; 198 of these (34.1%) remembered 100%. Of 2547 positive reactions to allergens, 1229 (48.3%) were remembered correctly. LIMITATIONS: Limitations were reporting bias and individual interpretations of questions. CONCLUSION: Although patients reported both satisfaction with patch testing and improvement in skin conditions, they forgot more than 40% of identified allergens. Techniques are needed to improve patient recall.

Contact allergy in oral disease.

BACKGROUND: The role of contact allergy in oral cavity disease processes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of contact allergy to flavorings, preservatives, dental acrylates, medications, and metals in patients with oral disease. METHODS: Patients were tested with an 85-item oral antigen screening series. Data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: We evaluated 331 patients with burning mouth syndrome, lichenoid tissue reaction, cheilitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, orofacial granulomatosis, perioral dermatitis, and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Positive patch test results were identified in 148 of the 331 patients; 90 patients had two or more positive reactions. Allergens with the highest positive reaction rates were potassium dicyanoaurate, nickel sulfate, and gold sodium thiosulfate. Of the 341 positive patch test reactions, 221 were clinically relevant. LIMITATIONS: No follow-up data were available in this retrospective analysis. CONCLUSION: The positive and relevant allergic reactions to metals, fragrances, and preservatives indicated that contact allergy may affect oral disease.

Patch test results from the Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, 1998-2000.

BACKGROUND: Patch testing is a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. A standard series of allergens similar to that used by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) is used at Mayo Clinic. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to report the results of patch testing with a standard series at Mayo Clinic from July 1, 1998, to Dec 31, 2000 and to compare our findings with those of the NACDG during the same period. METHODS: The results of patch testing with the standard series at Mayo Clinic were examined. Positive reaction rates were compared between Mayo Clinic and the NACDG. RESULTS: During the 30-month period, 1324 Mayo Clinic patients were patch tested with a standard series of allergens (mean, 60 allergens), whereas the NACDG standard series during this period included 50 allergens. Overall, 917 patients (69.3%) had at least one positive reaction and 606 patients (45.8%) had two or more positive reactions. The 10 allergens used both by Mayo Clinic and by the NACDG that most frequently caused positive reactions were nickel sulfate hexahydrate, balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae), neomycin sulfate, cobalt chloride, fragrance mix, potassium dichromate (0.25%), thimerosal, bacitracin, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde. Statistically significant differences in positive reaction rates (P < .05) were observed for 12 of the 43 allergens common to both Mayo Clinic and the NACDG. CONCLUSION: With large standard patch test series, one can identify commonly encountered and potentially relevant contact allergens.

Low yield for extended reading of patch tests with topical corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of reports that up to 30% of patch test reactions are missed if an extended reading is not performed, we required that patients who were being patch tested with the corticosteroid series return for a reading at least 1 week after placement of the allergens. OBJECTIVE: To report our institutional experience with extended readings (day 7 or beyond) of patch test reactions to the corticosteroid series. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patch test reactions to corticosteroids since extended readings were implemented (April 2001 to June 2004). RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were patch tested with 1,656 corticosteroid allergens. On day 5, five patients had five positive patch test reactions; by the time of the extended reading, no new reactions had developed in these patients. Of the patients with no reactions on day 5, two had a positive result at the extended reading: each had a relevant reaction to budesonide 0.1%, one on day 7 and the other on day 9. CONCLUSIONS: Only 2 reactions (to 1,656 corticosteroids) became apparent at the extended reading. Extended readings were of limited value in our experience.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders among people with sleep disturbances: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether unexplained gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are more common in people with self-reported sleep disturbance. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: From November 1988 to June 1994, valid self-report questionnaires were mailed to age- and sex-stratified random samples of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents aged 20 to 95 years. RESULTS: Of 2269 study participants (74% response rate), 52% were women (mean age, 45.0 years). The overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of sleep disturbance per 100 population was 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.7%-15.3%). Among study participants with sleep disturbance, the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was 33.3% (95% CI, 26.0%-40.5%) and the prevalence of frequent dyspepsia (FD) was 21.3% (95% CI, 14.4%-28.2%). After adjusting for age, sex, and somatization score, IBS was significantly more common in those with sleep disturbance (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2), but the univariate association with FD was no longer statistically significant (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Both IBS and FD are prevalent in those with self-reported sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance was independently associated with IBS but not FD in the general population.

Efficacy of adenoidectomy in the treatment of nasal and middle ear symptoms in children with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of adenoidectomy in children with Down syndrome and control patients. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for preoperative symptoms, ear complaints, date and reason for adenoidectomy, and postoperative symptoms in 27 children (mean age, 6.0 years; range, 1.6-14.5 years) with Down syndrome and 53 age- and sex-matched controls who had adenoidectomy between January 1978 and September 1997. Long-term follow-up was aided by telephone interviews. Improvement in nasal and middle ear symptoms after adenoidectomy was calculated as the percentage of patients symptom-free postoperatively among those with symptoms preoperatively. RESULTS: After adenoidectomy, more controls than patients with Down syndrome had improvement in symptoms, including nasal obstruction (86.7% versus 50.0%; P=0.005); snoring (73.2% versus 40.9%; P=0.01); mouth breathing (84.1% versus 40.9%; P<0.001); and middle ear disease (68.0% versus 23.1%; P<0.001). Patients with Down syndrome were 7.7 times (95% confidence interval, 2.3-25.3) more likely to have chronic ear drainage after adenoidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the efficacy of adenoidectomy in children with Down syndrome is significantly less than that in controls and should influence surgical decision making in these children.

Patch-testing with hairdressing chemicals.

BACKGROUND: Hairdressing chemicals may be associated with allergic contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of patch-testing with hairdressing chemicals. METHODS: We reviewed results from patients who underwent patch testing with our standard allergen series (including 15 hairdressing chemicals) and a supplementary "hairdresser series" (18 additional hairdressing chemicals) at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN; Scottsdale, AZ; and Jacksonville, FL) from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2008. RESULTS: Two hundred ten patients (mean age, 53.8 years [SD, 16.9 yr]; female, 94.8%) were patch-tested. The most common sites of dermatitis were the scalp, face, and hands. Patients had widely varying occupations. The most common occupations were cosmetologist (10.5%), housewife (9.5%), and beautician (5.2%); 14.3% were retired. The hairdresser series detected 13 additional patients with allergies (6.4%; 204 patients tested with both series) who would not have been detected with the standard allergen series alone. The highest allergic patch-test rates in the supplemental hairdresser series were with ammonium persulfate (14.4%), 4-aminoazobenzene (13.4%), and pyrogallol (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Patch-testing with hairdressing-specific chemicals (standard series plus supplemental hairdresser series) was appropriate for numerous clinical situations and was not limited to patients in hair care occupations. The supplemental hairdresser series helped identify more patients than would have been identified with the standard series alone.

Patch testing with a large series of metal allergens: findings from more than 1,000 patients in one decade at Mayo Clinic.

BACKGROUND: The standard allergen series used in patch testing contains metals that most commonly cause allergic contact dermatitis, but testing with additional metal allergens is warranted for select patients. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with patch testing of metals. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 1,112 patients suspected of having metal allergies. Patients were seen from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2009. Patch testing was performed with 42 metal preparations (6 in the standard series, 36 in the metal series). RESULTS: Patch testing most commonly was performed for patients with oral disease (almost half the patients), hand dermatitis, generalized dermatitis, and dermatitis affecting the lips, legs, arms, trunk, or face. At least one positive reaction was reported for 633 patients (57%). Metals with the highest allergic patch-test reaction rates were nickel, gold, manganese, palladium, cobalt, Ticonium, mercury, beryllium, chromium, and silver. Metals causing no allergic patch-test reactions were titanium, Vitallium, and aluminum powder. Metals with extremely low rates of allergic patch-test reactions included zinc, ferric chloride, and tin. Reaction rates varied depending on metal salt, concentration, and timing of readings. CONCLUSION: Many metals not in the standard series were associated with allergic patch-test reactions. The many questions raised by these findings, concerning patch testing with individual metals, will be the subject of future studies.

Patch test results may vary depending on where testing is performed: a comparison of patch test results from three geographically distinct sites in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Do patch test results vary from one part of the USA to another? Few reports directly compare the results of patch testing across centers within the USA. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to compare results of patch testing from three geographically disparate Mayo Clinic sites in the USA to ascertain whether there are any differences in allergic patch test rates. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patch test results for patients tested with a standard allergen series using our enterprise-wide protocol for patch testing. We compared data collected from January 1, 2001, through to December 31, 2007, from our practice sites in the Midwest, Southwest, and Southeast regions of the USA. RESULTS: In total, 5063 patients underwent patch testing. The mean (standard deviation) number of allergens tested per patient was 70.3 (3.8) (range: 10-87; interquartile range: 68-73). Analyses were conducted separately for 72 allergens with positive reactions from at least 20 patients. Risk-adjusted positive reaction rates (RAPRRs) for 44 allergens differed significantly (P<0.05) among the geographic sites; RAPRRs differed significantly across all three sites for 11 allergens and between two of the three sites for 33 allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic patch test rates differed among our three practice sites for many allergens. It is likely that many factors contributed to these observed differences, including variations in the population undergoing patch testing, variations in allergen exposure, and variations in climate.