title: Proallergens of formaldehyde applied in patch testing of formaldehyde contact allergy.
abstract: The ability of the nonliquid, nonvolatile proallergen of formaldehyde, N-hydroxymethylsuccinimide, to test for contact allergy to formaldehyde has been investigated by in vitro penetration studies in human epidermis. Compared with the standard test, 1% formaldehyde in water, N-hydroxymethylsuccinimide equal to 0.8 mg formaldehyde gave a similar penetration profile. This is explained by cleavage of N-hydroxymethylsuccinimide into formaldehyde and carrier (succinimide) by transepidermal water on the surface of the skin. Results were confirmed by a guinea pig maximazation test on animals sensitized to formaldehyde and in a preliminary clinical study on nine patients with known allergy to formaldehyde.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Pharmacia AS, Hillerød, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albrechtsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hedegård
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013388:Succinimides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D013388:Succinimides; D005557:Formaldehyde; C062034:N-hydroxymethylsuccinimide