Towards a perfect vehicle(s) for diagnostic patch testing: an overview.

Audris Chiang, Howard I Maibach

University of California San Francisco, Dermatology, 90 Medical Center Way, Box 0989, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Cutaneous and ocular toxicology 2013 Mar

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The correct selection of vehicles for patch testing is crucial in evaluating suspected allergic contact dermatitis. We reviewed literature by searching Pubmed and Embase for the years 1971-2011 utilizing the subjects "vehicle," "allergic contact dermatitis" and "patch test" for advances in knowledge of vehicles." A universal optimal vehicle more efficient than petrolatum remains undiscovered. Literature provides research supporting alternate vehicles for specific allergens and insights on vehicle characteristics, such as influence on bioavailability of chemicals and subsequent percutaneous absorption or interaction with allergens. These findings should accelerate our ability to define, and thus determine, the optimum vehicle(s).

Citation

Audris Chiang, Howard I Maibach. Towards a perfect vehicle(s) for diagnostic patch testing: an overview. Cutaneous and ocular toxicology. 2013 Mar;32(1):60-6