title: Contact allergy to preservatives. Analysis of IVDK data 1996-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preservatives are well-known and important contact allergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the frequency of sensitization to preservatives, including time trends.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of data on patch testing of preservatives contained in the standard series and special series collected by the IVDK during 1996-2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 120,000 and 80,000 patients were tested with the baseline and the preservative series, respectively. Sensitization frequencies of the standard series allergens all ranged above 1%: methyldibromoglutaronitrile (MDBGN) 2·36-4·5%, methy(chloro)isothiazolinone (MCI/MI) 2·22%, formaldehyde 1·54%, paraben mix 1·33% and Bronopol® 1·25%. Regarding the special preservative series, 1·54% reacted positive to methylisothiazolinone (MI), and < 1% to the other preservatives. Concomitant reactions to formaldehyde in formaldehyde releasers ranged from 15% to almost 50%, and 67% of MI positives reacted to MCI/MI. As indicated by the MOAHLFA index, sensitization to MI, iodopropynylbutyl carbamate (IPBC) and quaternium 15 was associated more often with occupational dermatitis, whereas sensitization to imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea was associated with face dermatitis, indicating cosmetic exposure. Epidemiologically relevant decreases (> 10%) were seen in chloroacetamide, benzyl alcohol and MDBGN. Epidemiologically relevant increases were noted in IPBC, sodium benzoate and MI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preservatives are still important contact allergens. The introduction of new preservatives should consider the specific characteristics of occupational and of nonoccupational (cosmetic, household) exposure, and preventive measures should aim equally at both areas.
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Department of Dermatology (IVDK), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. aschnuch@med.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnuch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lessmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical