Contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulfate

100 consecutive patients routinely attending the contact dermatitis clinic were patched tested to gold sodium thiosulfate (GST). 13 patients had a positive patch test to GST, 11 of whom were female, and 12 had pierced ears. There was no correlation with any other substance in the European standard series, although there was a high incidence of nickel sensitivity in all patients (33%). Eczema on the ring fingers and neck was significantly more common in the group positive to GST. 1/2 of the patients with a positive response to GST had symptoms that they felt could be attributed to gold allergy.