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. 2022 Jan-Feb;33(1):31-35.
doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000787.

Contact Allergy to Two Aluminum Salts in Consecutively Patch-Tested Dermatitis Patients

Ingrid Siemund, Jakob Dahlin  1 , Monica Hindsén  1 , Erik Zimerson  1 , Annarita Antelmi  1 , Nils Hamnerius  1 , Inese Hauksson  1 , Marléne Isaksson  1 , Ann Pontén  1 , Martin Mowitz  1 , Cecilia Svedman  1 , Magnus Bruze  1
Affiliations

Contact Allergy to Two Aluminum Salts in Consecutively Patch-Tested Dermatitis Patients

Ingrid Siemund et al. Dermatitis. 2022 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: Recently, aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH) 10.0% petrolatum (pet) was recommended for patch testing to detect aluminum contact allergy. Aluminum lactate (AL) may be as reliable a test substance as ACH.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the frequencies of aluminum allergy when ACH and AL were used in patch testing consecutive patients.

Methods: Petrolatum preparations of ACH 10.0% and AL 12.0% were added to the baseline series in 2010-2017. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate 10.0% pet was added to the children baseline series from July 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017.

Results: A total of 5448 patients were patch tested with the extended baseline series and 196 children with the extended children baseline series. Forty-eight of the 5448 adults (0.9%) and 10 of the 196 children (5.1%) were diagnosed with aluminum contact allergy. A significant difference was found between the aluminum allergy frequencies in children and adults patch tested with ACH in 2013-2017 (P < 0.001). The difference between the frequencies of contact allergies for the 2 aluminum salts is not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Patch testing with ACH and AL demonstrated similar contact allergy frequencies. To detect aluminum allergy, patch testing with ACH 10.0% pet is recommended. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate 10.0% pet should be considered for inclusion in baseline series for patch testing adults and children.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to declare.

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