Associations between tobacco smoking status and patch test results—A cross-sectional pilot study from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sonja Molin - , Queen's University Kingston, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Richard Brans - , University Osnabruck (Author)
  • Andrea Bauer - , Department of Dermatology, University Allergy Centre, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Detlef Becker - , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • Burkhard Kreft - , Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Author)
  • Vera Mahler - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Author)
  • Christoph Skudlik - , University Osnabruck (Author)
  • Rudolf Stadler - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Christiane Szliska - , Diakonie Klinikum Bethesda (Author)
  • Elke Weisshaar - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Johannes Geier - , University of Göttingen (Author)

Abstract

Background: Earlier studies suggested a potential association between tobacco smoking and nickel sensitization, but little is known about other contact allergens. Objectives: To investigate the association of smoking status and contact sensitizations as well as subtypes of dermatitis, and to analyse the sensitization profiles of tobacco smokers. Patients and Methods: Within the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), we performed a cross-sectional multicentre pilot study comprising 1091 patch-tested patients from 9 departments, comparing 541 patients with a history of cigarette smoking (281 current and 260 former smokers) with 550 never-smokers. Results: We could not confirm the previously reported association between nickel sensitization and tobacco smoking. Moreover, sensitizations to other allergens, including colophony, fragrance mix I, Myroxylon pereirae and formaldehyde, were not increased in cigarette smokers compared with never smokers. Hand dermatitis (50.6% vs. 33.6%) and occupational cause (36.2% vs. 22.5%) were significantly more frequent among cigarette smokers compared with never-smokers as shown by non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: Although our study does not allow a firm conclusion on whether smoking status contributes to certain contact sensitizations, it confirms an association of smoking with hand dermatitis and occupational cause.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)203-211
Number of pages9
JournalContact dermatitis
Volume91
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38778718
ORCID /0000-0002-4411-3088/work/169643520

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • allergic contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis, occupational, patch testing, tobacco smoking