title: Are concomitant patch test reactions to epoxy resin and BIS-GMA indicative of cross-reactivity?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite rare simultaneous exposure, concomitant sensitisation to bisphenol A diglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA) and epoxy resin frequently occurs. Immunological cross-reactivity has not been proven by animal experiments so far.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to examine cross-reactivity epidemiologically by analysing data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2001 to 2005, 3,777 patients were patch tested with epoxy resin and BIS-GMA in the IVDK. We retrospectively analysed concomitant reactions to these allergens and to BIS-GMA and selected methacrylates. Additionally, we compared clinical characteristics of patients reacting to both, epoxy resin and BIS-GMA, with those of patients reacting to epoxy resin or BIS-GMA only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  185 patients reacted to epoxy resin, and 40 to BIS-GMA. Of the latter, 34 reacted to epoxy resin. There was no difference concerning exposure between the above-mentioned groups of patients. Concomitant reactions to BIS-GMA and methacrylates hardly ever occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the fact that very few patients had been potentially exposed to BIS-GMA and that 85% of those reacting to BIS-GMA also reacted to epoxy resin, we conclude that our data are presumably indicative of immunological cross-reactivity. A verification of this hypothesis by animal experiments would be promising.
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, University of Göttingen, Germany. jgeier@ivdk.org
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lessmann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnuch
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D003429:Cross Reactions; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate