Reactivity to sorbitan sesquioleate affects reactivity to fragrance mix I.
BACKGROUND
Fragrance mix I (FM I) and its single constituents contain 5% and 1% sorbitan sesquioleate (SSO), respectively. SSO is a rare sensitizer and a potential irritant.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the outcome of the FM I breakdown test is affected by positive patch test reactivity to SSO.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 1998-2013, was performed.


RESULTS
The full FM I breakdown test including SSO was tested in 2952 patients. Of these, 154 (5.2%) had a positive patch test reaction to SSO 20% pet. and 2709 (91.8%) had a negative patch test reaction. Positive reactions to one or more of the single fragrances contained in the mix were significantly more common (82.5% versus 57.3%) in SSO-positive patients, who also had more multiple reactions than FM I-positive patients with negative SSO reactions (61.5% versus 21.3% patients with reactions to two or more fragrances).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that reactivity to SSO markedly affects the outcome of patch testing with FM I and its single constituents. SSO must be an obligatory part of the full FM I breakdown test, and should ideally be included in the baseline series.
Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Johannes
J
Geier
Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Axel
A
Schnuch
Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Holger
H
Lessmann
Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Wolfgang
W
Uter
D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D006601:Hexoses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000485:Allergens; D006601:Hexoses; D010476:Perfume; C058854:sorbitan sesquioleate
fragrance allergy; fragrance mix; patch testing; sorbitan sesquioleate