Ufc matt brown photosensitivity

Photoallergic contact dermatitis (PACD), a subtype of allergic contact dermatitis that occurs because of the specific combination of exposure to an exogenous chemical applied topically to the skin and UV radiation, may be more common than was once thought. Although the incidence in the general population is unknown, current research points to approximately 20% to 40% of patients with suspected photosensitivity having a PACD diagnosis. Recently, the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) reported that 21% of 373 patients undergoing photopatch testing (PPT) were diagnosed with PACD; however, PPT is not routinely performed, which may contribute to underdiagnosis.

Mechanism of Disease

Similar to allergic contact dermatitis, PACD is a delayed type IV hypersensitivity reaction; however, it only occurs when an exogenous chemical is applied topically to the skin with concomitant exposure to UV radiation, usually in the UVA range (315–400 nm). When exposed to UV radiation, it is thought that the exogenous chemical combines with a protein in the skin and transforms into a photoantigen. In the sensitization phase, the photoantigen is taken up by antigen-presenting cells in the epidermis and transported to local lymph nodes where antigen-specific T cells are generated. In the elicitation phase, the inflammatory reaction of PACD occurs upon subsequent exposure to the same chemical plus UV radiation. Development of PACD does not necessarily depend on the dose of the chemical or the amount of UV radiation. Why certain individuals may be more susceptible is unknown, though major histocompatibility complex haplotypes could be influential.

Clinical Manifestations

Photoallergic contact dermatitis primarily presents in sun-exposed areas of the skin (eg, face, neck, V area of the chest, dorsal upper extremities) with sparing of naturally photoprotected sites, such as the upper eyelids and nasolabial and retroauricular folds. Other than its c

Lauren C Briere

Lauren C Briere

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Melissa A Walker

Melissa A Walker

Department of Neurology, Division of Neurogenetics, Child Neurology, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Frances A High

Frances A High

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Cynthia Cooper

Cynthia Cooper

Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Cassandra A Rogers

Cassandra A Rogers

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Christine J Callahan

Christine J Callahan

Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;

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, Ryosuke Ishimura

Ryosuke Ishimura

Department of Biochemistry, Niigata University School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan;

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, Yoshinobu Ichimura

Yoshinobu Ichimura

Department of Biochemistry, Niigata University School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan;

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, Paul A Caruso

Paul A Caruso

Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Nutan Sharma

Nutan Sharma

Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA;

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, Elly Brokamp

Elly Brokamp

Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37

INDEX TO VOLUME 299 FOR 1989

  1. INDEX TO VOLUME 299...
  2. INDEX TO VOLUME 299 FOR 1989
ArticlesBritish Medical Journal1989; 299 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.299.Index_1989_Dec.3(Published 01 December 1989) Cite this as: British Medical Journal 1989;299:3

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