title: Assessment of cross-reactivity of new less sensitizing epoxy resin monomers in epoxy resin-allergic individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measures to prevent occupational exposure to epoxy resins, including education, medical examination, and voluntary agreements between employers and workers, have not been effective enough to protect against skin sensitization. Therefore, alternatives to the major epoxy resin haptens that have been found to be less sensitizing in the local lymph node assay have been developed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the cross-reactivity of two newly designed epoxy resin monomers, with decreased skin-sensitizing potency and good technical properties as compared with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), in subjects with known contact allergy to epoxy resin of DGEBA type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven individuals with previous positive patch test reactions to epoxy resin of DGEBA participated in the study. The two alternative epoxy resin monomers were synthesized and patch tested in dilution series in parallel with epoxy resin of DGEBA from the baseline series (containing 92% DGEBA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants reacted to epoxy resin of DGEBA on retesting. Three participants reacted to monomer 1. No reactions were seen to monomer 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alternative monomers studied showed little or no cross-reactivity with epoxy resin of DGEBA. Decreasing the risk of sensitization by using less sensitizing compounds is important, as contact allergy to epoxy resins is common in spite of thorough preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 405 03, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hagvall
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Dermatochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ida B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Niklasson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Dermatochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Radiology and Medicine Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, 501 82, Borås, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudbäck
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Dermatochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.|School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Niamh M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: O'Boyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 405 03, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niklasson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Gothenburg, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luthman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Dermatochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann-Therese
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Karlberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D006241:Haptens; C019273:bisphenol A diglycidyl ether; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: DGEBA; allergic contact dermatitis; cross-reactivity; epoxy resin; patch testing; skin sensitization; structure-activity relationships