title: Preservatives sensitivity in Israel: a 10-year overview (1995-2004).
abstract: This study presents a 10-year survey of 2285 patients tested to common preservatives in northern Israel. The demographic and clinical data were analysed using a revised MOAHLFA index. Patch testing was based on the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) guidelines. 411 (18%) patients were found to have positive reactions to 1 or more preservatives. The most frequent allergens tested positively were thimerosal, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI), and formaldehyde. The reactions to MCI/MI remained stable around 1.7% throughout the years 1995-1998, with a significant increase to 3.7%-4% (P = 0.029) during 1999-2004. The reactions to formaldehyde remained low around 0.3% until 1999; however, a considerable increase throughout the years 2000-2004 was noted, with rates of 1.5%-1.9% (P = 0.028). The sensitivity rates for parabens, quaternium-15, imidazolidinylurea, and diazolidinylurea were low and unchanged, mostly under 0.5%. As for methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN), sensitivity rates around 2% were detected for the years 1996 and throughout 2000-2004. Overall, this extensive survey showed a concerning increase in the sensitivity rates for MCI/MI, formaldehyde, and MDBGN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel. l_zoller@Rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Lilach
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zoller
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weltfriend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009570:Nitriles; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013844:Thiazoles; D005557:Formaldehyde; D013849:Thimerosal; C011421:5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; C039411:1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane