Little is yet known about the duration of contact sensitivity, but frequent exposure of a target to allergen seems to reduce skin reactivity. The aim of this study was to study the persistence of a specific contact sensitivity in 66 patients with alopecia areata, previously sensitized to DNCB (31 patients) and SADBE (35 patients) between 1978-1985. Patch tests were performed with 0.020 ml of different concentrations of DNCB or SADBE in acetone (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 1%). The results were read in a standardized manner. Of 66 patients, 47 (71%) had positive reactions and 19 (29%) negative. 8 of the 19 negative patients had been treated with DNCB, 11 with SADBE. Approximately 1/3 of the patients previously sensitized had lost their original sensitivity, and this did not seem to be time-dependent. This phenomenon seemed to be clinically correlated because the majority of the patients were from the "low responders" group. We think that acquired unresponsiveness to topical antigen in man is a possible phenomenon, but that it occurs more rarely than in mice and guinea pigs.

The loss of contact sensitization in man / R. Valsecchi, A. Rossi, A. Bigardi, P. D. Pigatto. - In: CONTACT DERMATITIS. - ISSN 0105-1873. - 24:3(1991 Mar), pp. 183-6-186.

The loss of contact sensitization in man

P. D. Pigatto
Ultimo
1991

Abstract

Little is yet known about the duration of contact sensitivity, but frequent exposure of a target to allergen seems to reduce skin reactivity. The aim of this study was to study the persistence of a specific contact sensitivity in 66 patients with alopecia areata, previously sensitized to DNCB (31 patients) and SADBE (35 patients) between 1978-1985. Patch tests were performed with 0.020 ml of different concentrations of DNCB or SADBE in acetone (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 1%). The results were read in a standardized manner. Of 66 patients, 47 (71%) had positive reactions and 19 (29%) negative. 8 of the 19 negative patients had been treated with DNCB, 11 with SADBE. Approximately 1/3 of the patients previously sensitized had lost their original sensitivity, and this did not seem to be time-dependent. This phenomenon seemed to be clinically correlated because the majority of the patients were from the "low responders" group. We think that acquired unresponsiveness to topical antigen in man is a possible phenomenon, but that it occurs more rarely than in mice and guinea pigs.
Humans; Cyclobutanes; Aged; Patch Tests; Child; Dermatitis, Contact; Alopecia Areata; Dinitrochlorobenzene; Adult; Middle Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Adolescent; Administration, Topical; Female; Male
Settore MED/35 - Malattie Cutanee e Veneree
mar-1991
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/194917
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