Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia
On-line version ISSN 1806-4841
An. Bras. Dermatol. vol.88 no.5 Rio de Janeiro Sept./Oct. 2013
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132164
INVESTIGATION
1Professor of Dermatology at Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba - Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná (HUEC-FEPAR) – Curitiba (PR), Brazil.
2PhD in Dermatology - Professor of Dermatology, Departament of Dermatology, Clinics Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (Hospital de Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade São Paulo - HC-FMUSP) – São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
BACKGROUND:
Patch testing remains the gold standard method for the identification of the etiologic agent of allergic contact dermatitis. However, it is a subjective, time-consuming exam whose technique demands special care and which presents some contraindications, which hamper its use. In a recent study, we showed that the proliferation assay can suitably replace patch testing for the diagnosis of chromium allergy, which had been previously demonstrated only for nickel allergy. In this study, we try to refine the method by reducing the incubation period of cultures for lymphocyte proliferation assays in response to chromium.
OBJECTIVE:
Develop an alternative or complementary diagnostic test for chromium allergic contact dermatitis.
METHODS:
We compared the production of 9 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17 and RANTES) between 18 chromium-allergic patients and 19 controls.
RESULTS:
Chromium increased the production of IFN-y, IL-5, IL-2 and IL-13 in allergic patients, but only IL-2 and especially IL-13 helped discriminate allergic patients from controls. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy found with IL-13 were about 80%.
CONCLUSIONS:
IL-13 and IL-2 detection may be used to diagnose chromium allergy in 2-day cultures. However, in general, the 6-day cultures seem to be superior for this purpose.
Key words: Chromium; Cytokines; Dermatitis, allergic contact; Dermatitis, contact; Laboratory test; Lymphocyte activation
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