Clinical Profile of 784 Patch Test Patients at St. Luke's Medical Center.

Background.Allergic   contact dermatitis  (ACD) is  a common diagnosis in  patients seen at the outpatient department.   Patch test  confirms  and  identifies   the  causative  chemicals    in   these patients.    The  Environmental    Dermatology    Unit   of  St.  Luke's Medical  Center,   Philippines  has been  conducting  a 70-allergen standard patch test series for more than 10 years.  This is the first retrospective study on patch  tested patients in this institution.

Objectives. This study aims to determine the clinical  profile; analyze the epidemiology  on age,  sex,  occupation,  diagnoses, most common dermatitis sites;  and,  determine most common allergens among  patients who  underwent  patch  testing in  the Environmental Dermatology  Unit from 2003 to 2014.

Methods. Patch test results  from January 2003 to December

2014 were collated  and tabulated.   Frequencies  and percentages were  obtained.    Correlation    of  prevalence   and  relevance   of allergens  were  calculated    using   the  Significance-Prevalence Index Number  (SPIN).

Results. A total of 784 patients were patch tested from January

2003 to December 2014.  The majority of the patients were middle• aged,  females,  and Asians.  The most common occupations were professionals  or managers.  Among all allergens tested,  nickel has the  highest  number   of  positive  reactions  and  relevance. Thimerosal and gold sodium are two other allergens  with  high relevance.

Conclusion.   Patch   test  is   an  important  diagnostic  tool

that  confirms  allergic   contact dermatitis.  The clinical   profile  of the  patch  tested  patients reflected  similar  findings   with  other countries.  Likewise, nickel  is the most common allergen.  Unlike North America and Europe,  thimerosal  and gold sodium  are more frequently seen in this predominantly Asian  study population.

Key words. patch test,  allergic contact dermatitis,  allergens,

Philippines