Clinical Contact Allergy-Surveillance in Europe - The ESSCA-Network

Background: The main objective of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA; http://www.essca-dc.org) is to monitor the frequency of contact sensitizations (CS) in a European clinical population of patients undergoing diagnostic patch testing. Methods: In 2004, dermatology departments from eleven countries electronically collected patient histories and patch test results. Data were pooled and analyzed at the ESSCA data center. Results: A total of 11,643 patients were tested with standard-series allergens, and 44% of the patients tested positive (+ to +++) to one or more allergens of the European standard series. Positive reactions were most frequently seen to metal salts and fragrance mix. Conclusion: The ESSCA network provides information regarding recent CS patterns in the network's countries, which, for example, exemplifies the success of Denmark's early regulation of nickel exposure.