Classification of diagnoses and atopy

Classification of diagnoses and atopy
Data on diagnosis, occupation, skin and respiratory atopy, and
contact allergies were collected from the patient files.
The diagnoses were based on a clinical examination by a
dermatologist and patch and skin prick test results. All patients
were tested with extensive patch tests including occupationspecific
test series and with patients’ work-related chemicals
and materials.
OHE was categorized as occupational allergic contact dermatitis
(ACD) or irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). The definition
of ACD included a work-related contact allergy confirmed in
patch tests and relevant occupational skin exposure and hand
eczema. ICD was defined by the following criteria: exposure
to irritants at work, the clinical picture of the hand eczema
correlating with the exposure at work, the eczema clearing up
when not working, and the absence of relevant work-related
contact allergies. Only one main diagnosis (either ACD or
ICD) per patient was analysed.
Skin atopy was defined as either present or past atopic
dermatitis. If the patient had no skin atopy, but had a history of
hay fever or atopic respiratory disease and ⁄or positive skin prick
tests to common environmental allergens, the classification of
respiratory atopy was applied. Data on occupational ACD from
chromium compounds, rubber chemicals, epoxy chemicals, acrylates
and formaldehyde were analysed separately.
The duration of the eczema was calculated from the onset
of symptoms to the time of diagnosis.