Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) and other inflammatory skin disorders. These drugs can cause however contact allergy whose exact prevalence in the general population is unknown, as is in patients suffering from inflammatory skin diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of contact sensitization to topical corticosteroids in pediatric patients with AD. For this purpose, 71 children with AD (mean age, 7.6 yrs; range, 5-12 yrs) consecutively attending the pediatric ambulatory of our unit were evaluated. They all had used topical corticosteroids for more than 6 months during the last 2 yrs. Children were patch tested with the childhood series, with markers of sensitization to corticosteroid allergy and with the topical preparations used by the patients. The results of patch testing showed the presence of contact sensitization to corticosteroids (tixocortol pivalate, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate and with the commercial preparation named Locoidon) in only one patient (1.4%), suggesting that contact sensitization to topical steroids in AD children appears to be rare, despite the frequent use of such drugs
Contact allergy to topical corticosteroids in children with atopic dermatitis
FOTI, Caterina;BONAMONTE, Domenico;
2005-01-01
Abstract
Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) and other inflammatory skin disorders. These drugs can cause however contact allergy whose exact prevalence in the general population is unknown, as is in patients suffering from inflammatory skin diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of contact sensitization to topical corticosteroids in pediatric patients with AD. For this purpose, 71 children with AD (mean age, 7.6 yrs; range, 5-12 yrs) consecutively attending the pediatric ambulatory of our unit were evaluated. They all had used topical corticosteroids for more than 6 months during the last 2 yrs. Children were patch tested with the childhood series, with markers of sensitization to corticosteroid allergy and with the topical preparations used by the patients. The results of patch testing showed the presence of contact sensitization to corticosteroids (tixocortol pivalate, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate and with the commercial preparation named Locoidon) in only one patient (1.4%), suggesting that contact sensitization to topical steroids in AD children appears to be rare, despite the frequent use of such drugsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
