NICKEL PATCH TEST REACTIVITY AND THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE

Premenstrual exacerbation of allergic contact dermatitis and varying a llergic patch test responses have been reported at different points of the period. Using a dilution series of nickel sulphate, we studied th e variation in patch test reactivity in nickel allergic women in relat ion to the menstrual cycle. Twenty women with regular periods were tes ted on day 7-10 and on day 20-24. Ten nickel patch tests with differen t concentrations were applied using the TRUE(R) test assay, and the th reshold concentration of nickel sulphate eliciting an erythematous rea ction was determined. Half of the women were tested first on day 7-10 and the other half first on day 20-24. There was no difference in the degree of patch test reactivity, when the results from day 7-10 and da y 20-24 were compared (p>0.4). However, when we compared the patch tes t results from the first and second test procedure, we found an increa sed nickel sensitivity at the second patch test (0.02<p<0.05), suggest ing a booster effect from the first patch test procedure. In conclusio n, we could not demonstrate an increased sensitivity to nickel sulphat e patch tests premenstrually in 20 nickel allergic women, but we found that elicitation of positive patch tests led to an increased skin rea ctivity towards the same allergen, when the patients were retested wee ks later.