title: Results of patch testing with fragrance mix 1, fragrance mix 2, and their ingredients, and Myroxylon pereirae and colophonium, over a 21-year period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency of fragrance contact allergy has shown a fluctuating trend over the years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the frequency of positive reactions to the baseline screening agents and fragrance mix (FM) 1 and 2 components, to determine trends of the latter over the years, and to evaluate simultaneous reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study on patch test results of 13 332 patients from January 1990 to December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total population, 9.6% reacted positively to FM 1, and 6% of 3416 tested with FM 2 reacted positively. Of those tested with both, 30.4% of 349 FM 1-positive patients reacted to FM 2, and 51.7% of 205 FM 2-positive patients reacted to FM 1. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC) and FM 2 were tested simultaneously in 3401 patients: 6 reacted to HICC alone. Nine hundred and forty patients were tested with FM 1 ingredients and 205 with FM 2 ingredients; Evernia prunastri was the most frequent FM 1 allergen, and HICC was the most frequent FM 2 allergen. Simultaneous reactions were frequently observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fragrance-allergic subjects often show multiple positive reactions, some of which are highly significantly associated. Recently, there has been a decreasing trend in positivity for both Evernia prunastri and HICC, whereas a slight increase for cinnamyl alcohol has been observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nardelli
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonez
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drieghe
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000009:adverse effects; D000485:Allergens; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029904:Myroxylon / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000485:Allergens; D003358:Cosmetics; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D010476:Perfume; C092244:hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde