The ‘MOAHLFA(P) Index’ : An Attempt to Standardise a Widely Used Array of Descriptors of Patch-Tested Patients
(2025) In Contact Dermatitis 92(4). p.251-260- Abstract
Background: Since its inception in 1980, the MOHL index (% patients who are male, have occupational, hand, or leg dermatitis, respectively) and its later evolutions until the presently used MOAHLFA(P) index (adding % patients with atopic dermatitis, face dermatitis, age 40+ years and positive reaction(s) to ≥ 1 baseline series allergen) have been intended to convey important demographic and clinical information on the patients patch tested in a certain area and time, aiding the interpretation of the observed spectrum of sensitisation. Objectives: To examine the current usage of the MOAHLFA(P) index and suggest consolidated definitions for its single items. Methods: A title/abstract search in Medline identified publications mentioning... (More)
Background: Since its inception in 1980, the MOHL index (% patients who are male, have occupational, hand, or leg dermatitis, respectively) and its later evolutions until the presently used MOAHLFA(P) index (adding % patients with atopic dermatitis, face dermatitis, age 40+ years and positive reaction(s) to ≥ 1 baseline series allergen) have been intended to convey important demographic and clinical information on the patients patch tested in a certain area and time, aiding the interpretation of the observed spectrum of sensitisation. Objectives: To examine the current usage of the MOAHLFA(P) index and suggest consolidated definitions for its single items. Methods: A title/abstract search in Medline identified publications mentioning the evolving acronyms. A Delphi-like survey among contact dermatitis experts collected agreement with suggested definitions. Results: The search term ‘MOAHLFA’ was used in 35 publications from a broad geographical origin. More than 80% of the 24 participants of the survey (65% response) agreed on maintaining to use (i) sex for the ‘M’ criterion, (ii) occupation-related dermatitis irrespective of medicolegal definitions for the ‘O’, (iii) atopic dermatitis (but not rhinitis or asthma) for the ‘A’. The possibility to use more than one site among ‘H’, ‘L’ and ‘F’ and a more detailed description of age distribution were favoured, and the difficult interpretability of the ‘P’ measure was highlighted. Conclusions: The ‘classical’ MOAHLFA(P) index may be extended. Some aspects, notably atopic dermatitis, need further standardisation.
(Less)
- author
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- clinical epidemiology, contact dermatitis, patch testing
- in
- Contact Dermatitis
- volume
- 92
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85215503658
- pmid:39800943
- ISSN
- 0105-1873
- DOI
- 10.1111/cod.14750
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- id
- 1e081d68-0984-4b6f-905b-f5c9dda18b10
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-22 14:13:25
- date last changed
- 2025-04-23 03:00:02
@article{1e081d68-0984-4b6f-905b-f5c9dda18b10,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Since its inception in 1980, the MOHL index (% patients who are male, have occupational, hand, or leg dermatitis, respectively) and its later evolutions until the presently used MOAHLFA(P) index (adding % patients with atopic dermatitis, face dermatitis, age 40+ years and positive reaction(s) to ≥ 1 baseline series allergen) have been intended to convey important demographic and clinical information on the patients patch tested in a certain area and time, aiding the interpretation of the observed spectrum of sensitisation. Objectives: To examine the current usage of the MOAHLFA(P) index and suggest consolidated definitions for its single items. Methods: A title/abstract search in Medline identified publications mentioning the evolving acronyms. A Delphi-like survey among contact dermatitis experts collected agreement with suggested definitions. Results: The search term ‘MOAHLFA’ was used in 35 publications from a broad geographical origin. More than 80% of the 24 participants of the survey (65% response) agreed on maintaining to use (i) sex for the ‘M’ criterion, (ii) occupation-related dermatitis irrespective of medicolegal definitions for the ‘O’, (iii) atopic dermatitis (but not rhinitis or asthma) for the ‘A’. The possibility to use more than one site among ‘H’, ‘L’ and ‘F’ and a more detailed description of age distribution were favoured, and the difficult interpretability of the ‘P’ measure was highlighted. Conclusions: The ‘classical’ MOAHLFA(P) index may be extended. Some aspects, notably atopic dermatitis, need further standardisation.</p>}},
author = {{Uter, Wolfgang and Andersen, Klaus Ejner and Brans, Richard and Bruze, Magnus and Schubert, Steffen and Gonçalo, Margarida and Aalto-Korte, Kristiina and Aerts, Olivier and Agner, Tove and Bircher, Andreas and Bonefeld, Charlotte Menne and Brans, Richard and Buhl, Timo and Foti, Caterina and Giménez-Arnau, Ana Maria and Gonçalo, Margarida and Goossens, An and Johansen, Jeanne Duus and John, Swen Malte and Lepoittevin, Jean Pierre and Maibach, Howard and Matura, Mihály and Paulsen, Evy and Rustemeyer, Thomas and Scheper, Rik and Stingeni, Luca and Svedman, Cecilia and White, Ian and Wilkinson, Mark and Buckley, Deirdre and Dear, Kate and Dickel, Heinrich and Gallo, Rosella and Hafner, Christine and Garcés, Marcos Hervella and Pesonen, Maria and Raison-Peyron, Nadia and Scherer, Kathrin and Schuttelaar, Marie Louise A. and Sommerlund, Mette and Travassos, Rita}},
issn = {{0105-1873}},
keywords = {{clinical epidemiology; contact dermatitis; patch testing}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{251--260}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Contact Dermatitis}},
title = {{The ‘MOAHLFA(P) Index’ : An Attempt to Standardise a Widely Used Array of Descriptors of Patch-Tested Patients}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.14750}},
doi = {{10.1111/cod.14750}},
volume = {{92}},
year = {{2025}},
}