[Skin patch test with nickel sulphate--an attempt of broader interpretation of the results].

Skin patch test with nickel sulphate provides grounds for distinguishing 10% females with hypersensitivity to ions of this metal. The literature data published as yet indicate that in these women an alteration takes place in conditions of the inner environment of their organisms. The alteration may result in an absence of adaptive capacities of the women to altered conditions of the outer environment (occasional, transient elevation in nickel ion level in the environment). Such an approach to the problem opens discussion on the accepted as yet, egocentric pattern of thinking, related to effects of metal ions on the organism and described as the physiological mechanism of the type I and IV hypersensitivity. The author suggests that nickel ions, acting at subtoxic levels but markedly exceeding the doses defined as physiological ones, which may develop locally, transiently in the outer environment, may exert unfavourable effects on, depending upon the level of conducted studies, molecular, cellular, tissue or body levels. The absence of skin adaptive capacity to, i.a., neutralize the excess of ions at the site of their application disturbs in a dose-related manner the normally functioning immune system, what is manifested with an inflammatory reaction of various intensity.