The Specificity of a Nickel Sulphate Reaction in Vitro: a Family Study and a Study of Chromium‐allergic Subjects

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Abstract
In vitro PPD [purified protein derivative of tuberculin] and NiSO4 lymphocyte blast transformation reactions were performed in 10 families with 1 or more allergic Ni contact dermatitis patients. The healthy family members did not have an inherited ability to react to Ni in vitro. Their Ni stimulation response was significantly lower (P < 0.005) than that among the allergic subjects. In the families studied, atopic members did not have higher Ni reactions than nonatopic subjects. The in vitro Ni reaction is not apparently connected to atopy. The percentage of atopic subjects (19%) in these families is not higher than the percentage in the general population. Six unrelated Cr-allergic patients were tested, and their lymphocytes did not cross-react with NiSO4 in vitro. The in vitro Ni blast transformation reaction is apparently specific to clinical Ni allergy in about 90% of Ni dermatitis patients.