TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of repeated skin exposure to low nickel concentrations

T2 - a model for allergic contact dermatitis to nickel on the hands

AU - Nielsen, N H

AU - Menné, T

AU - Kristiansen, J

AU - Christensen, J M

AU - Borg, L

AU - Poulsen, L K

PY - 1999/10

Y1 - 1999/10

N2 - We studied the effects of repeated daily exposure to low nickel concentrations on the hands of patients with hand eczema and nickel allergy. The concentrations used were chosen to represent the range of trace to moderate occupational nickel exposure. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled. Patients immersed a finger for 10 min daily into a 10-p.p.m. nickel concentration in water for the first week, and during the second week into a 100-p.p.m. nickel concentration. This regimen significantly increased (P = 0.05) local vesicle formation and blood flow (P = 0.03) as compared with a group of patients who immersed a finger into water. The nickel concentrations used also provoked significant inflammatory skin changes on sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-treated forearm skin of the patients, whereas inflammatory skin changes were not observed in healthy volunteers without hand eczema and nickel allergy, either on normal or on SLS-treated forearm skin. The present study strongly suggests that the changes observed were specific to nickel exposure. Standardized methods to assess trace to moderate nickel exposure on the hands, and the associated effects in nickel-sensitized subjects, are needed.

AB - We studied the effects of repeated daily exposure to low nickel concentrations on the hands of patients with hand eczema and nickel allergy. The concentrations used were chosen to represent the range of trace to moderate occupational nickel exposure. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled. Patients immersed a finger for 10 min daily into a 10-p.p.m. nickel concentration in water for the first week, and during the second week into a 100-p.p.m. nickel concentration. This regimen significantly increased (P = 0.05) local vesicle formation and blood flow (P = 0.03) as compared with a group of patients who immersed a finger into water. The nickel concentrations used also provoked significant inflammatory skin changes on sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-treated forearm skin of the patients, whereas inflammatory skin changes were not observed in healthy volunteers without hand eczema and nickel allergy, either on normal or on SLS-treated forearm skin. The present study strongly suggests that the changes observed were specific to nickel exposure. Standardized methods to assess trace to moderate nickel exposure on the hands, and the associated effects in nickel-sensitized subjects, are needed.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Dermatitis, Allergic Contact

KW - Dermatitis, Occupational

KW - Double-Blind Method

KW - Forearm

KW - Hand Dermatoses

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Nickel

KW - Patch Tests

KW - Regional Blood Flow

KW - Statistics, Nonparametric

KW - Clinical Trial

KW - Journal Article

KW - Randomized Controlled Trial

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.03106.x

DO - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.03106.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10583115

VL - 141

SP - 676

EP - 682

JO - British Journal of Dermatology, Supplement

JF - British Journal of Dermatology, Supplement

SN - 0366-077X

IS - 4

ER -