title: Contact allergy to sorbitans: a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sorbitan sesquioleate (SSO), an emulsifier in many corticosteroids, was previously found positive in 8.9% of 112 dermatitis patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to present data on 24 of 591 dermatitis patients with reactions to SSO and/or sorbitan monooleate (SMO) on patch testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted on 591 consecutive dermatitis patients patch tested from November 2008 to May 2010. In addition to being tested to a modified North American Contact Dermatitis Group standard series, all patients were tested to a cosmetic series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 591 patients tested, 24 reacted to SSO and/or SMO (4.1%), 19 (3.2%) reacted to SSO alone, 1 (0.17%) to SMO alone, and 4 (0.68%) reacted to both. Of the 24 sorbitan-allergic patients, 2 (8.3%) reacted to any of 4 corticosteroid screening chemicals tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this follow-up study, 4.1% of 591 dermatitis patients reacted to SSO and/or SMO. Given the presence of SSO in many popular topical corticosteroid formulations, clinicians should consider allergy to sorbitans when patients do not improve with topical corticosteroid therapy.
authors: Tufts Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Brienne.Cressey@tufts.edu
authors: Brienne D
authors: BD
authors: Cressey
authors: Neal
authors: N
authors: Kumar
authors: Pamela L
authors: PL
authors: Scheinman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006601:Hexoses / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006601:Hexoses; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C018665:sorbitan monooleate; C058854:sorbitan sesquioleate