Background: N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism may be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic contact dermatitis.
Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate whether acetylation polymorphism plays a role in the susceptibility to p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) sensitization.
Methods: The frequencies of seven NAT2 point mutations, namely G191A, C282T, T341C, C481T, G590A, A803G, and G857A, and genotypes were determined by PCR/RFLP in a total of 70 patients with allergic contact dermatitis to PPD and 100 control subjects with no history of allergy, atopy, lung disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer.
Results: Genotypes coding rapid acetylation were detected in 52.9% and 37.0% of patients with contact dermatitis and control subjects, respectively (P = 0.04). The frequency of the NAT2*4 allele and NAT2*4/*4 genotype, coding for rapid acetylation, were also significantly higher in the contact dermatitis patients than in the control subjects (P = 0.003).
Conclusion: Our results suggest an association between rapid acetylation polymorphism and susceptibility to PPD sensitization.