PREVALENCE OF GOLD CONTACT HYPERSENSITIVITY IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND

373 patients attending for routine patch testing were tested with 0.5% and 0.05% gold sodium thiosulfate (GST). 8 (2.1%) patients had a posi tive patch test, and a further 4 (1.0%) patient reactions which were i nterpreted as irritant. 2 out of 8 patients with a positive patch test to GST suspected gold allergy Frier to testing, and both of these pat ients reported that their eczema resolved if they avoided gold jewelle ry. This is the lowest prevalence of hypersensitivity to GST reported and suggests that gold contact allergy may not be as widespread as has been recently proposed. (C) Munksgaard, 1997.