Contact allergy to glucocorticosteroids in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers, atopic dermatitis and contact allergy

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of contact allergy to glucocorticosteroids in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (CVLU), atopic dermatitis (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD), and in a group of healthy individuals; and to estimate differences among these patient groups. Patch tests with the European standard series, antibiotics, glucocorticosteroid contact allergy screening markers and ointment vehicles were performed in a population of 140 patients. Positive patch tests results were recorded in 80% and contact allergy to glucocorticosteroids in 40% of CVLU patients. In the group of AD patients, the respective figures were 30% and 3%. In the group of CD patients, allergic type of disease was detected in 80% and positive patch tests for glucocorticosteroids in 20% of patients. In healthy individuals, allergic contact reaction was observed in 17% of cases. Statistically significant differences among patient groups were found according to the prevalence of contact allergy, polyvalent allergy and contact allergy to glucocorticosteroids. We suggest that glucocorticosteroid contact allergy should be considered as a crucial clinical problem in patients with inflammatory dermatoses like CVLU, AD and CD.