Table 1.

Characteristics of patients and healthy controls.

Group Subject n.	Sex	Age range (median)	Patch test to Ni	Patch test to Pd	Patch test to Rh
1 n = 10	9 F	28 – 40 (30)	9 +++	9 -	9 -
	1 M	30	1 +++	1 -	1 -
2 n = 10	9 F	28 – 38 (33)	9 -	7+++/2 ++	9 -
	1 M	40	1 -	1 ++	1 -
3 n = 10	9 F	29 – 40 (32)	9 +++	6 ++/3 +	9 -
	1 M	39	1+++	1 +	1 -
4 n = 10	9 F	28 – 38 (33)	9 -	9 -	9 -
	1 M	36	1 -	1 -	1 -

As described in the methods, patch test reactivity to the different metal salts was defined as strong (+++: oedema, erythema, papules and vesicles), moderate (++: oedema, erythema and papules), weak (+: oedema and erythema) or no reaction (-).