Sensitization to para-tertiary-butylphenolformaldehyde resin.
BACKGROUND
Phenolformaldehyde resins, especially the para-tertiary-butylphenolformaldehyde resin (PTBP-FR), are widely used in industry and in numerous materials of everyday use, such as glues, adhesives, or inks. They can cause many occupational and nonoccupational cases of dermatitis.


METHODS
Forty-one patients with positive patch test results to PTBP-FR were selected for this study. They were patch-tested with a series of chemically related compounds and cross-reactions were noted.


RESULTS
Phenolformaldehyde resin (PF-R) was frequently positive (65.8%), whereas other compounds gave a much smaller number of positive results. Cases of occupational exposure (24.4%), location of the dermatitis (hands were involved in 46.3% of cases), and possible sources of exposure (shoes were the responsible agent in 12.2% of cases) were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Phenolformaldehyde resins are an important cause of contact dermatitis and must be studied chemically and clinically to improve the prognosis of sensitized patients.
Massone
L
L
Department of Dermatology, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Anonide
A
A
Borghi
S
S
Usiglio
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000485:Allergens; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D005557:Formaldehyde; C014273:p-tert-butylphenolformaldehyde resin