Clinical surveillance study publication coming in early 2024
Clinical surveillance study publication coming in early 2024
Clinical data on fragrance allergies - meaning how many patients seeing a clinic react positively in a patch test to specific fragrance markers - are of utmost importance. This includes the potential element of gaining information on the impact of risk management interventions.
As part of the IDEA project, and to complement the refinement of risk assessment and management tools, a clinical surveillance system was suggested.
A pilot study was conducted in 2022, with four clinics participating. The purpose of the study was to determine adequate patch test concentrations for five as-yet untested fragrance ingredients and to test the efficiency of data collection and reporting, with the participating clinics located in Coimbra (Portugal), Groningen (The Netherlands), Malmö (Sweden) and Zagreb (Croatia).
These clinics are highly experienced in patch testing and were selected for the study on the basis of their location and expertise.
A publication is currently under peer review. This is expected to be published in Contact Dermatitis in the first or second quarter of 2024.
IDEA is now preparing for the launch of the regular study, with a number of additional clinics participating from across Europe. The target for the launch for the first round of testing is the beginning of May 2024.
In January 2024, an EFISS investigators and steering committing meeting further addressed how to progress on the work to publish the study protocol. This group also discussed timing of launching the study as well as the interest in organising dedicated sessions on patch test reading following agreed criteria to contribute to high standard and quality of the results.
A subsequent meeting will be organised in March which will address the status of the readiness of the clinics (e..g with regard to ethical approvals) as well as address final questions on the protocol.