Sensitivity to some rubber additives

The frequency of positive patch tests to 13 rubber accelerators in Poland was recorded. Of particular interest was the relatively large group of patients positive to several, mostly chemically unrelated, accelerators. The mechanism of this multiple sensitivity is discussed. Positive tests to N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine were observed in more than half of the patients reacting to several aromatic amines. Anamnesis indicated that in the case of cross-reactions to many aromatic amines, none of the patients positive to N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine had complained of a reaction to rubber products.