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.