title: Carvone: an overlooked contact allergen cross-reacting with sesquiterpene lactones?
abstract: The terpene l-carvone is one of the main constituents of spearmint oil. The sensitizing potential of l-carvone has been considered low, but it has occasionally caused contact allergy in users of spearmint toothpaste and chewing gum. l-Carvone is also an oxidation product of d-limonene that occurs in solvents used increasingly in industry. We included l-carvone 5% pet. in the standard patch test series. In the 1st year, 541 patients were tested and 15 (2.77%) had positive, and 12 doubtful positive (?+) reactions to l-carvone. The strongest reactions were observed in 9 patients with concomitant Compositae sensitivity. The key clinical features and other contact allergies of the patients are presented. When re-testing with l-carvone in the same or lower concentrations, only 2 out of 8 patients had positive reactions. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in terms of cross-reactions, concomitant sensitization, excited skin syndrome, irritancy and facilitated immunological response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egsgaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010328:Patch Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013729:Terpenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; C006923:carvone