title: Frequency, spectrum and occupational relevance of type IV allergies to rubber chemicals.
abstract: 3851 consecutive patients patch tested between January 1985 and March 1990 have been analysed for rubber allergies. The incidence of rubber allergy was 3.8% (n = 145). In 80/145 patients (55%), the source of rubber sensitization was occupational, 67 of whom (84%) had acquired allergy from wearing rubber gloves at work. Most of them (36%) were employed in the health services. The most commonly positive rubber-mix in this group was thiuram-mix (72%) followed by carba-mix (25%). 13/80 patients (16%) had occupational rubber allergy from industrial rubber products other than gloves. Patch tests revealed thiuram-mix (62%) as the most commonly positive rubber-mix but, in contrast to the group with glove-induced rubber allergy, black-rubber-mix came second (38%). In 47/145 patients (32%), the source of rubber sensitization was non-occupational; in 18/145 (13%) the origin remained unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, FRG.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Hintzenstern
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heese
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Hornstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber