Screening for acrylate/methacrylate allergy in the baseline series: our experience in Sweden and Singapore

• Published in: Contact dermatitis Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 307 - 313
• Main Authors: Goon, Anthony Teik-Jin, Bruze, Magnus, Zimerson, Erik, Goh, Chee-Leok, Soo-Quee Koh, David, Isaksson, Marléne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: acrylates; Acrylates - adverse effects; Acrylates - immunology; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergens - chemistry; allergic contact dermatitis; Allergic diseases; baseline series; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Clinical Medicine; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - diagnosis; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - epidemiology; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - etiology; Dermatologi och venereologi; Dermatology and Venereal Diseases; Female; Hand Dermatoses - chemically induced; Hand Dermatoses - epidemiology; Humans; Immunopathology; Incidence; Klinisk medicin; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Methacrylates - adverse effects; Methacrylates - chemistry; Middle Aged; patch test; Patch Tests - methods; screening; Sex Distribution; Singapore - epidemiology; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Sweden - epidemiology; Young Adult; Sweden; Singapore; Asia; Europe; Immunopathology; Allergy; Skin disease; screening. A inns; allergic contact dermatitis; acrylates; Medical screening; baseline series; Screening; Contact dermatitis; patch test; Patch; Skin test
• ISSN: 0105-1873; 1600-0536
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2008.01440.x

Background:  No studies to specifically determine the prevalence of contact allergy to acrylates/methacrylates in patch tested populations have been published. Objectives:  To determine the prevalence of acrylate/methacrylate allergy in all patients tested to the baseline patch test series. Methods:  Five acrylate/methacrylate allergens (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, and 2‐hydroxypropyl acrylate) were included in the baseline series for at least 2 years in Malmö and Singapore. Results:  Thirty‐eight patients in total had reacted to acrylate/methacrylate allergens in the baseline series during the study period in both populations. In Malmö, there were 26 (1.4%) patients with positive patch tests to acrylate/methacrylate allergens, 14 of whom had relevant reactions. In Singapore, there were 12 (1.0%) patients with positive patch tests to acrylate/methacrylate allergens, but only 1 had relevant reactions. If we had not added acrylate/methacrylate allergens to the baseline series, we would not have patch tested 13/26 (50%) of the positive reactors in Malmö and 11/12 (92%) of the positive reactors in Singapore. The overall proportion of missed positive reactors would have been 24/38 (63%). Conclusions:  The prevalence of acrylate/methacrylate allergy in our patch tested dermatitis populations is 1.4% in Malmö and 1.0% in Singapore.