Metal contact dermatitis: prevalence of sensitization to nickel, cobalt and chromium

Abstracts

FUNDAMENTOS: Dermatite de contato (DC) por metais é dermatose comum em diversos grupos populacionais. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar o grupo com DC ao níquel, cromo e cobalto na população estudada, determinar a prevalência da sensibilização aos mesmos, verificar as combinações de testes positivos e comparar com a literatura. CASUÍSTICAS E MÉTODOS: Foram realizados testes epicutâneos em 1.208 pacientes com hipótese diagnóstica de DC. Selecionaram-se aqueles com testes positivos aos metais. RESULTADOS: Obtiveram-se 404 pacientes (33,5% da amostra) com pelo menos um teste positivo ao níquel e/ou cobalto e/ou cromo. Foram 487 testes positivos a metais, correspondendo a 48% de todos os testes positivos. A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (72%), de cor branca (54%), com idade entre 40 e 49 anos (25%) empregada na área de limpeza (59%). Dos 404, 329 (81,5%) foram positivos a apenas um tipo de metal, sendo 60% com teste positivo ao níquel, 13% ao cromo e 8,5% ao cobalto. Cerca de 18,5% apresentaram testes positivos a dois ou três metais, sendo a associação níquel/cobalto a mais comum. CONCLUSÕES: A sensibilização aos metais foi de 48%, entre os testes positivos e ocorreu principalmente em mulheres da cor branca, na faixa etária de 40 a 49 anos e sem correlação ocupacional. A maioria apresentou sensibilização a apenas um metal. Esses dados são semelhantes aos de outros trabalhos já publicados.

Cobalto; Cromo; Dermatite de contato; Metais; Níquel

CLINICAL, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, LABORATORY AND THERAPEUTIC INVESTIGATION

Metal contact dermatitis: Prevalence of sensitization to nickel, cobalt and chromium^*

Ida Duarte^I; José Roberto Amorim^II; Eliene Félix Perázzio^III; Rutsnei Schmitz Junior^IV

^IAdjunct Professor of the Discipline of Dermatology of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo (SP)

^IIDermatologist specializing at the clinic

^IIIResident in Dermatology of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo (SP)

^IVUndergraduate student of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo (SP)

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Metal contact dermatitis (nickel, cobalt and chromium) is a common dermatosis among several population groups.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the individuals with metal contact dermatitis in the group studied, to determine the prevalence of skin sensitization by nickel, cobalt and chromium, to verify the positive test combinations among these three substances and to compare our results with the literature.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patch test was performed in 1208 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of contact dermatitis. Those with positive reactions to metals were selected.

RESULTS: Out of the total sample, 404 (33.5%) patients had at least one positive reaction to nickel and/or cobalt and/or chromium. There were 487 positive reactions to metals (48% of all positive reactions). Most patients were female (72%) and white (54%), aged 40-49 years old (25%) and cleaning services workers (59%). Among the 404 patients, 329 (81.5%) had positive reactions to only one metal; in that, 60% were positive to nickel, 13% to chromium and 8.5% to cobalt. Approximately 18.5% had positive reactions to two or three metals and the association of nickel and cobalt was the most frequently observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of positive reactions to metals was 48%, mainly in 40-49 year-old white women. Most patients were sensitive to only one metal and the dermatosis was not related to the occupation. The data obtained are in accordance with other studies published.

Keywords: Cobalt; Chromium; Dermatitis, contact; Metals; Nickel

INTRODUCTION

Nickel, cobalt and chromium are the metals most commonly responsible for metal contact dermatitis. Sensitization by these components may or may not be related to occupation. Positive reactions for these metals are mainly due to cosensitization, owing to simultaneous exposure to materials that contain the elements in their make-up.^1-3

In the literature searched for this study there was no report on the behavior of metal sensitization in the Brazilian population.

The main objectives of this study were thus: 1) to determine the prevalence of sensitization to nickel, cobalt and chromium among Brazilians with a presumptive diagnosis of contact dermatitis, seen at a healthcare service, from 1995 to 2002; 2) to describe the subgroup with metal contact dermatitis; 3) to verify combinations of positive reactions among these three components; and 4) to compare the results obtained with results in the literature.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1995 to 2002, patch tests were carried out on1208 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of contact dermatitis referred to the Allergy and Phototherapy Sector of the Dermatology Clinic of the Santa Casa Hospital, São Paulo.

The patients were submitted to the patch test series proposed by the Brazilian Contact Dermatitis Research Group,4 manufactured by FDA-Allergenic and comprising 30 elements (Chart 1).

The tests were read 48 and 96 hours later in compliance with the criteria adopted by the Group and by the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group - ICDRG, in 1981.⁵

The data obtained were added to a protocol drawn up on EPI-INFO 6.4. to compile the results.

RESULTS

Of the 1208 patients tested, 804 (66.5%) were negative for metals, while 404 (33.5%) were positive for one or more of the metals – nickel, cobalt and chromium. The positive reactions were in accordance with the clinical history of the patients. The estimated sensitization to metals ranged from 31% to 36% in a 95% confidence interval.

In all, 1009 tests were positive for different compounds, among the 1208 patients tested, with 487 positive reactions to metals in 404 patients. Thus, 48% of positive tests were nickel, chromium or cobalt-related; the average was 1.2 positive reactions per patient (Chart 2).

Distribution of patients by sex is shown in table 1 and by skin color in table 2. There were 113 men (28% of cases) and 291 women (72%). There were 218 white persons (54%), 70 black persons (17%), 108 brown-skinned persons (27%) and eight yellow-skinned persons (2%).

Table 3 shows distribution by age. There were 36 patients (9%) aged 10-19; 78 (19%) aged 20-29; 94 (23.5%) aged 30-39; 101 (25%) aged 40-49; 53 (13%) aged 50-59; and 42 (10.5%) aged 60 or over.

Table 4 shows the location of the dermatosis. The condition presented most frequently on the hands - 151 cases (37.5%); followed by the cephalic segment - 125 (31%); upper limbs not including the hands - 121 (30%); lower limbs not including the feet - 89 (22%); feet - 47 (12%); abdomen - 32 (8%); and trunk - eight (2%). The total number of locations was 573 with an average of 1.4 locations per patient.

Table 5 shows the occupations of patients testing positive for metals. Most worked in the cleaning segment, including housewives, totaling 239, corresponding to 59% of cases. This total was followed by 35 building workers (9%); 35 office workers/students (9%); 33 healthcare workers (8%); 15 mechanics/steel workers (4%); 14 shop assistants/salespersons (3%); 11 hairdressers (3%); eight tailors/garment makers (2%); four joiners (1%); and four farm hands (1%). Six patients (1%) reported no professional activity at the time of the contact tests. Additionally, 154 (39%) reported the appearance or worsening of the dermatosis in connection with professional activity, while 250 (61%) made no such association.

Table 6 shows positive reactions relating to isolated metals or associations between them. Among the 404 patients who tested positive for metals, 329 (81.5%) were sensitive to only one of the metals tested: 243 patients (60%) were nickel-sensitive; 52 (13%) were chromium-sensitive. and 34 (8.5%) were cobalt-sensitive. In regard to associations of these metals, 75 (18.5%) had more than one positive reaction: eight patients (2%) tested positive for nickel and chromium; 39 (9.5%) tested positive for nickel and cobalt; 20 (5%) tested positive for chromium and cobalt; and eight patients (2%) tested positive for all three components.

Table 7 shows in statistically significant fashion that nickel presented the highest sensitization prevalence in isolation, compared to the other metals. However, cobalt showed the highest rate of positive reactions when associated with chromium and nick (X2=82,41; p<0,00001).

DISCUSSION

In the present study, 33.5% of patients presented one or more positive reactions for the metals, corresponding to 48% of all the positive test results. In other populations with similar profiles that have been studied, nickel, chromium and cobalt are the major sensitizers,^6-9 with chromium being most frequent in men, and nickel in women.^8,10 In the present study, 78% were women, which probably led to nickel being the substance with the highest number of positive reactions.

Thus, in regard to the prevalence of sensitization and sex, the results are similar to those of earlier publications.

As to age, all age ranges were represented, with 48.5% of patients in the 20-49 year-old age group, corresponding to the most economically productive sector of the Brazilian population, which is therefore the segment most exposed to sensitization.

In regard to location of the contact dermatitis, the data obtained match those of a previous study in this population,⁴ in which the most common locations for metal contact dermatitis are also the hands, face and upper limbs.

The majority of patients (59%) worked in professions related to cleaning, including housewives. In the case of approximately 322 patients (83%), their professional activities were linked to wet work (cleaning services workers, builders, painters, hairdressers, etc). Metals in cleaning products have been reported as powerful triggering or perpetuating agents in contact dermatitis caused by metals.¹¹ Work in moist conditions associated to exposure to metals favored sensitization in 39% of patients. Cleaning workers are related to all types of metals owing to their contact with nickel and chromium as well as cosensitization through cobalt.

The major sensitizer was nickel, occurring in 243 patients as the single sensitizer, and in 55 in association with chromium and cobalt. Nickel was statistically significant in relation to cobalt, which presented a higher frequency of sensitization when associated to nickel or chromium. Concomitant sensitization to metals occurs through cosensitization; in other words, through exposure to materials with different metals in their composition. Several studies have shown absence of cross-reactions to nickel, chromium and cobalt.^8,12,13

Sensitization to cobalt occurs mainly through the presence of this metal in materials that also contain chromium and nickel, which explains why sensitization to cobalt is more common in association with other metals, as in the present study.

In some European countries such as Denmark, standards have been introduced in recent years to reduce sensitization to chromium and nickel. The addition of ferrous sulfate to cement to reduce the amount of trivalent chromium has already proved effective in reducing the incidence of cement-induced contact dermatitis.¹⁴ Mandatory use, especially in jewelry and body piercings, of metals that liberate smaller quantities of nickel has already resulted in lower rates of nickel sensitization in recent years.^15-17 The role of new behaviors favoring metals allergies must be highlighted. Massimiliano et al.¹⁵ published an article describing two patients with nickel-induced allergic dermatitis triggered by mobile telephones. Matilla et al.¹⁶ reported an increase in the incidence of allergy to nickel, especially in women, between 1985 and 1995, associated with the use of jewelry and body piercings. Erlich et al.¹⁷ suggested an increase in nickel sensitization owing to greater use of body piercings.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, in the group that was investigated, metal contact dermatitis showed a similar frequency to that in other reported studies, accounting for 48% of positive reactions. Approximately 33.5% of the population under examination showed sensitization to metals, above all white women in the 40-49 age range. In 39% of patients the dermatosis was associated with their occupation. The majority showed sensitization to only one type of metal. Sensitization to cobalt was most common when associated with a positive reaction to nickel.

All the data obtained are similar to those of other populations studied, showing that, in Brazil, the group that was studied had similar characteristics in relation to sensitization to metals.

Continuation of the study will in future enable assessment of other factors that may interfere in the incidence of this type of dermatosis in the whole population. q

REFERENCES

Received on June 30, 2004.

Approved by the Consultive Council and accepted for publication on February 04, 2005.

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• 5. Fregert S. Manual of contact dermatitis. Year Book Of Medical Publishers; 2^nd ed. Munksgaard, 1981. p. 139.
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• 8. Basketter DA, Briatico-Vangosa G, Kaestner W, Lally C, Bontinck WJ. Nickel, cobalt and chromium in consumer products: a role in allergic contact dermatitis? Contact Dermatitis. 1993; 28:15-25.
• 9. Vahter M, Berglund M, Akersson A, Lidén C. Metals and Women's Health. Environ Res. 2002; 88:145-55.
• 10. Nethercott J, Paustenbach D, Adams R et al. A study of chromium induced allergic contact dermatitis with 54 volunteers: implications for environmental risk assessment. Occup Environ Med. 1994; 51:371-80.
• 11. Wahlberg JE, Lidén C. Cross-reactivity patterns of cobalt and nickel studied with repeated open applications (ROATs) to the skin of guinea pigs. Contact Dermatitis. 2000; 11: 42-8.
• 12. Johansen JD, Menné T, Christophersen J, Kaaber K, Veien N. Changes in the pattern of sensitization to common contact allergens in Denmark between 1985-86 and 1997-98, with a special view to the effect of preventive strategies. Br J Dermatol. 2000; 142: 490-5.
• 13. Roto P, Sainio H, Reunala T, Laippala P. Addition of ferrous to cement and risk of chromium dermatitis among construction workers. Contact Dermatitis. 1996; 34:43-50.
• 14. Zachariae COC, Agner T, Menné T. Chromium allergy in consecutive patients in a country where ferrous sulfate has been added to cement since 1981. Contact Dermatitis. 1996; 35:83-5.
• 15. Massimiliano P, Pasquale L, Colombina V, Antonella T. Contact dermatitis from nickel in mobile phones. Contact Dermatitis. 2000; 42: 362-3.
• 16. Mattila L, Kilpeläinen M, Terho EO, Koskenvuo M, Helenius H, Kalimo K. Prevalence of nickel allergy among finnish university students in 1995. Contact Dermatitis. 2001; 44:218-23.
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*

Work done at Dermatology Outpatients Clinics, Hospital Central da Santa Casa de Misericórdia, São Paulo (SP).

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 June 2005
• Date of issue
  Apr 2005

History

• Accepted
  04 Feb 2005
• Received
  30 June 2004