How well is the outcome of patch testing remembered by the patients? A 10-year follow-up of testing with the Swedish baseline series at the Department of Dermatology in Örebro, Sweden.

BACKGROUND

Patch testing is beneficial for patients with contact dermatitis. However, it is not known how well the outcome of patch testing is remembered after a prolonged period.

OBJECTIVES

To study how well patients remember the outcome of their tests after 1-10 years.

PATIENTS/MATERIALS/

METHODS

In 2010, a questionnaire was sent to all patients tested with the Swedish baseline series in 2009, 2005, and 2000.

RESULTS

The response rate was 53.3% (252/473), and 96% (241/252) of patients reported that they had been submitted for allergy testing. Among those with positive patch test results, 79% (111/141) remembered a positive result and 29% (41/141) reported the correct name of the allergen. We found a wide variation (0-80%) in how well the patients remembered positive test results for different allergens. The ability to recall allergens had no relationship with the localization or extension of eczema lesions, but was negatively correlated with the number of diagnosed allergies, the number of years after patch testing, and being male.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that improved information for patients following patch testing is required, in order to improve the prognosis of contact dermatitis.