Patch Testing in Individuals With Diabetes Using Medical Devices. Part 1-Contact Allergy to Baseline Series Allergens.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of contact allergy in individuals with diabetes and diabetes medical device (MD) users is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study (Part 1 and 2) aims at describing contact allergy prevalences in diabetes MD users.

METHODS

Adults with type 1 diabetes from two endocrinology departments were patch tested with the Swedish baseline series (SBS) and a MD series. Contact allergies to the baseline series were compared with consecutive dermatitis patients. Detailed results for the MD series are presented in another manuscript.

RESULTS

Overall, similar contact allergy prevalences to the SBS were seen in the 204 individuals with diabetes (114 with rash to diabetes MDs, 90 without) and 1382 controls (34.3% vs. 39.6%, adjusted p value = 0.30). The prevalence of sesquiterpene lactone mix allergy was higher in the individuals with diabetes vs. dermatitis controls (2.5% vs. 0.3%, adjusted p value = 0.0011). Contact allergy to Myroxylon pereirae resin (MP) was overrepresented in individuals with diabetes versus controls (8.3% vs. 3.8%, adjusted p value = 0.0033) but not in individuals with diabetes with rash to diabetes MDs vs. without.

CONCLUSIONS

Contact allergy to the SBS is common in diabetes MD users. The cause of the overrepresentation of MP allergy needs to be further elucidated.