Overview
This 15-year retrospective analysis of 1085 patients at the Dental Metal Allergy Clinic at Tokushima University Hospital examined correlations between pierced earring history and prevalence of metal allergies including palladium. Patients with earring-related inflammation had significantly higher metal allergy prevalence (81.3%) than those without earring history (60.4%). Among patients with earring history, 40.2% were positive for both Pd and nickel (Ni) compared to 9.5% in the non-earring group.
Key numbers
- Total patients: 1085 (78.4% female)
- Overall prevalence of at least one metal allergen: 65.4%
- Pd and Ni as most common allergens alongside chromium (Cr) and Co
- Patients with earring-related inflammation: 81.3% metal allergy prevalence
- Patients without earring history: 60.4% metal allergy prevalence (p less than 0.001)
- Earring history group: 40.2% positive for both Pd and Ni; 6.5% only Pd; 16.1% only Ni
- Non-earring group: 9.5% positive for Pd+Ni; 12.8% only Pd; 9.5% only Ni
- Earring-related inflammation cases: increased from 5.0% (2005) to 43.2% (2020)
Methods (brief)
Retrospective chart review of 1085 consecutive patients referred to Dental Metal Allergy Clinic, Tokushima University Hospital over 15 years (approximately 2005-2020). Patch test data with dental metal series extracted from records. Earring use and earring-related inflammation history documented. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test for association analysis.
Implications
This page makes the source discoverable for palladium evidence routing. Provides Japanese clinical population data showing Pd as a leading contact allergen in a dental allergy clinic setting, with the novel finding that earring-related inflammation history substantially increases odds of Pd sensitization, particularly co-sensitization with Ni. This is consistent with the earring-metal sensitization route preceding dental allergy.
Related evidence
Update history
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