title: Reaction profile in patch testing with allergens formed during vulcanization of rubber.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulcanization of rubber changes its allergen pattern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the contact allergic reactivity profile of users of finished rubber products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with known contact allergy to rubber accelerators were patch tested with 21 compounds found in chemical analyses of vulcanized rubber products. No diphenylguanidine, p-phenylenediamine antioxidants or thioureas were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thiuram monosulfides formed during vulcanization showed generally stronger test reactions than the corresponding thiuram disulfides. We also obtained more positive thiuram reactions to the monosulfides than to the disulfides. A positive reaction to a dithiocarbamate was accompanied by a positive reaction to the corresponding thiuram, except for 1 patient. The nitrogen substituents showed only minor differences between the methyl, ethyl and pentamethylene groups, but the butyl derivatives gave, in most cases, a negative response. Dialkylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulfides, formed between thiurams and mercaptobenzothiazoles during vulcanization, showed strong test reactions in almost all patients who were sensitive to dithiocarbamates, thiurams, or mercaptobenzothiazoles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found thiuram monosulfides to be better markers of thiuram sensitivity than the corresponding disulfides or dithiocarbamates. Surprisingly, the dialkylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulfides were good markers of both thiuram and mercaptobenzothiazole sensitivity. This is an unexpected finding that needs to be confirmed in a larger study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontén
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svedman
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bergendorff
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D013893:Thiram / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D013859:Thiocarbamates; C434503:mercaptobenzimidazol; D013893:Thiram; D012408:Rubber
keywords: accelerator; allergy; contact dermatitis; dithiocarbamate; mercaptobenzothiazole; monosulfide; rubber; thiuram; vulcanization