Reactivity to nickel sulfate at sodium lauryl sulfate pretreated skin sites is higher in atopics: an echographic evaluation by means of image analysis performed on 20 MHz B-scan recordings.

The aim of this study was to establish an objectively assessable procedure simulating simultaneous exposure to irritants and allergens in domestic and occupational environments, in order to evaluate differences in the reactivity to the combination of these substances in atopic and non-atopic nickel-sensitized subjects. Thirty-four nickel-sensitive patients, 20 of whom were affected by atopic dermatitis, underwent four patch tests with NiSO4 0.05% aq. on two adjacent sites of both volar forearms, with a 24-h application time. Two of the test sites were treated with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 5% for 30 min, before application of the nickel sulfate preparation. Echographic recordings were performed by a 20-MHz B-scanner and processed by an image analysis program, providing a numerical representation of the picture data, based on the attribution of fictional values to the amplitudes of the echoes. The dermal inflammatory reaction was quantified by an amplitude band, marking the hypo-reflecting part of the dermis, whereas epidermal damage was assessed by a band highlighting the entrance echo. Pre-treatment with SLS of the skin area where nickel sulfate was subsequently applied greatly enhanced the allergic response at 24 and 72 h, both in subjects with atopic dermatitis and in subjects with allergic contact dermatitis. However, in atopics, the increase in the allergic reactivity after irritation of the skin was more pronounced both by clinical and by echographic evaluation. These observations stress the importance of the concurrent action of irritants and allergens in maintaining the dermatitis in atopics.