[Some etiologic factors in condom-induced allergic contact balanitis]

Clinical cases presenting allergic contact balanitis from condoms are studied using a combination of patch testing and chemical analysis by gas chromatography and high-resolving liquid chromatography to identify the causative agents involved. It has been previously established that zinc ethylphenyl dithiocarbamate (ZEPC)--a dithiocarbamate-type accelerant (DTC)--is an etiological factor in the event of contact allergy to condoms. Later it is confirmed that DTCs, such as zinc dimethyl dithiocarbamate (ZDMC), zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate (ZDEC) and zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate and amines, such as dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine (DEA) and piperidine (PIP) are likewise implicated in condom-induced contact balanitis. As shown by the investigation along this line, although thiurams are believed to be more allergenic, as compared to the corresponding DTCs and amines, both DTCs (ZDMC, ZDEC, ZDBC, ZEPC) and amines (DMA, DEA and PIP) are noteworthy etiological factors of allergic contact balanitis from condoms.