Patch Test Data (patch + test_data)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Skin sensitizing properties of the ethanolamines mono-, di-, and triethanolamine.

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2009
Data analysis of a multicentre surveillance network (IVDK, review of the literature
Numerous publications address the skin sensitizing potential of the short chain alkanolamines triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), which are not skin sensitizing according to animal studies. Regarding TEA, we analysed patch test data of 85 098 patients who had been tested with TEA 2.5% petrolatum by Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) to identify particular exposures possibly associated with an elevated risk of sensitization. Altogether, 323 patients (0.4%) tested positive. The profile of patch test reactions indicates a slightly irritant potential rather than a true allergic response in many cases. Although used widely, no exposure associated with an increased risk of TEA sensitization was identified. Therefore, the risk of sensitization to TEA seems to be very low. MEA and DEA were patch tested in a much more aimed fashion in 9602 and 8791 patients, respectively when prevalence of contact allergy was 3.8% and 1.8%. MEA is the prominent allergen in metalworkers with exposure to water-based metalworking fluids (wbMWFs); DEA is probably used in cutting fluids less frequently nowadays. Chronic damage to the skin barrier resulting from wbMWF, the alkalinity of ethanolamines (increasing from TEA to MEA), and other cofactors may contribute to a notable sensitization risk. [source]


Epidemiological data on consumer allergy to p -phenylenediamine

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 6 2008
Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen
Many women and men now dye their hair. p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a frequent and important component of permanent hair dye products; exposure to it may cause allergic contact sensitization, acute dermatitis, and severe facial oedema. To increase our understanding of PPD allergy, we reviewed published literature containing PPD patch test data from dermatitis patients and individuals in the general population. This was performed to estimate the median prevalence and the weighted average of PPD sensitization and thereby assess the burden of PPD-containing hair care products on health. Literature was examined using PubMed,MEDLINE, Biosis, and Science Citation Index. The median prevalence among dermatitis patients was 4.3% in Asia, 4% in Europe, and 6.2% in North America. A widespread increase in the prevalence of PPD sensitization was observed among Asian dermatitis patients. In Europe, a decrease in the 1970s was replaced by a plateau with steady, high prevalences ranging between 2% and 6%. The prevalence remained high in North America, although a decreasing tendency was observed. Contact allergy to PPD is an important health issue for both women and men. More stringent regulation and enforcement are required as public health measures to reduce the burden of disease that exposure to PPD has brought to populations. [source]


Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2005
Data analysis of a multicentre surveillance network (IVDK, review of the literature
In the several publications reviewed in this article, propylene glycol (PG; 1,2-propylene glycol) is described as a very weak contact sensitizer, if at all. However, particular exposures to PG-containing products might be associated with an elevated risk of sensitization. To identify such exposures, we analysed patch test data of 45 138 patients who have been tested with 20% PG in water between 1992 and 2002. Out of these, 1044 patients (2.3%) tested positively, 1083 showed a doubtful, follicular or erythematous reaction (2.4%) and 271 explicit irritant reactions (0.6%). This profile of patch test reactions is indicative of a slightly irritant preparation, and thus, many of the ,weak positive' reactions must probably be interpreted as false positive. No private or occupational exposures associated with an increased risk of PG sensitization were identified, except for lower leg dermatitis. Therefore, according to our patch test data, PG seems to exhibit very low sensitization potential, and the risk for sensitization to PG on uncompromised skin seems to be very low. [source]


Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2004
David A. Basketter
Chemicals may possess a number of hazards to human health including the ability to cause skin irritation and contact allergy. Identification and characterization of these properties should fall within predictive toxicology, but information derived from human exposure, including clinical experience, is also of importance. In this context, it is of interest to review the case of benzalkonium chloride, a cationic surfactant. This chemical is a well-known skin irritant, but on occasions it has also been reported to have allergenic properties, typically on the basis of positive diagnostic patch test data. Because the accumulated knowledge concerning the properties of a chemical is employed as the basis for its regulatory classification (e.g. in Europe), as well as for informing the clinical community with respect to the diagnosis of irritant versus allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), it is important to distinguish properly which chemicals are simply irritants from those which are both irritant and allergenic on skin. A review of the information on benzalkonium chloride confirms that it is a significant skin irritant. However, both predictive test results and clinical data lead to the conclusion that benzalkonium chloride is, at most, an extremely rare allergen, except perhaps in the eye, but with many supposed cases of ACD being likely to arise from the misinterpretation of patch test data. As a consequence, this substance should not normally be regarded as, or classified as, a significant skin sensitizer. [source]


Simultaneous sodium lauryl sulphate testing improves the diagnostic validity of allergic patch tests.

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
Results from a prospective multicentre study of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (Deutsche Kontaktallergie-Gruppe
Summary Background, There is evidence that a higher skin susceptibility may induce nonspecific erythematous or weak positive reactions to contact allergens in patch testing. Objectives, To evaluate whether simultaneous application of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) along with diagnostic patch tests with contact allergens can provide information regarding skin irritability which may help to discriminate allergic from nonspecific irritant reactions to contact allergens. Methods, Between July 2001 and June 2003, this prospective study collected patch test data of 5971 patients from 19 centres in Germany and Austria in the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK). In addition to contact allergens (standard series and eight known ,problematic' allergens with a low reaction index and a high positivity ratio: 1,3-diphenylguanidine, amerchol L-101, benzalkonium chloride, benzoyl peroxide, cocamidopropyl betaine, octyl gallate, phenyl mercuric acetate and propylene glycol), patches with SLS 0·5% and 0·25% aq. were applied. Reactions to the allergens and to SLS were analysed at the IVDK data centre. The association between an erythematous or positive reaction to a certain allergen and an irritant reaction to SLS was assessed with logistic regression analysis, at the same time controlling for the influence of age and sex. Results, Of the 29 allergens of the standard series, 23 and 21 gave a higher percentage of nonspecific erythematous reactions in patients with an irritant reaction to 0·25% and 0·5% SLS, respectively, in comparison with SLS-negative patients. All eight ,problematic' allergens gave an increased percentage of nonspecific erythematous reactions. Similarly, 22 and 21 allergens of the standard series gave a higher percentage of positive allergic reactions in patients with an irritant reaction to 0·25% and 0·5% SLS, respectively, and seven of the eight ,problematic' allergens gave a higher percentage of positive allergic rections (exception: octyl gallate). For most allergens, the markers of skin reaction (reaction index and positivity ratio) were worse in SLS-positive patients. Differences were more pronounced when testing with SLS 0·25% than with SLS 0·5%. Conclusions, Because there is a convincing association between skin irritability (evaluated by SLS test) and the degree of skin reaction to contact allergens, the SLS test may help in deciding whether a doubtful erythematous or weakly ,positive' skin reaction should be interpreted as allergic or irritant. [source]