NICKEL SENSITIVITY - A CLINICAL AND ALLERGIC STUDY OF 100 PATIENTS INRIYADH, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objectives: The aim of this study is to present some of the clinical a nd allergic features of nickel sensitivity in patients from the Riyadh area and to compare the data with similar studies from other regions. Methods: Out of 320 patients, 100 patients gave a positive parch test to nickel sulfate alone or in association with other allergens. These were included in this analysis. The patients were patch tested with t he European standard series which included nickel sulfate 5% in petrol atum. Results: Of the 320 patients, 100 (31.3%) showed a positive reac tion to nickel sulfate either alone (43=13.4%) or in association with other allergens (57=17.8%). In the first group who reacted to nickel s ulfate alone, there were 6 men and 27 women (ratio 1:6.2). In the seco nd group there were 17 men and 40 women (ratio 1:2.4), Conclusions: Ni ckel appeared to be the most common cause of contact dermatitis in thi s region. This is in agreement with reports from other parts of the wo rld. Women are more commonly affected with a tendency to show single s ensitivities. We suggest that all patients with hand and foot dermatit is should be tested for nickel sensitivity. Since prevention is diffic ult, early diagnosis seems to be the only practical measure at the pre sent time.