SESQUITERPENE LACTONE CONTACT SENSITIVITY - CLINICAL-PATTERNS OF COMPOSITAE DERMATITIS AND RELATIONSHIP TO CHRONIC ACTINIC DERMATITIS

A mix of 3 sesquiterpene lactones (SL) (SL mix 0.1%) was evaluated ove r a 4-year period. Of 7420 patients with eczema investigated by patch testing. 135 (68 male, 67 female) (1.8%) demonstrated positive reactio ns, 114 (84%) considered clinically relevant. Females outnumbered male s until the age of 60, after which men were more commonly affected. Th e clinical patterns varied from patients presenting with generalized e czema (20%) or eczema of the hands and face (24%), to patients with ha nd (36%) or facial eczema (11%)) alone. 48 patients were investigated for suspected photosensitivity and 29 (21 male, mean age 69 years, and 8 female, mean age 66 years) had abnormal cutaneous monochromatic irr adiation tests. These results highlight the varied clinical presentati on of SL contact dermatitis and its association with chronic actinic d ermatitis. The SL mix proved reliable and safe, supporting its inclusi on in the European standard series of contact allergens.