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Contact sensitivity to preservatives in Turkey
Ayse Boyvat1, Aynur Akyol, Erbak Gürgey
1Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Ibni Sina Hastanesi, Samanpazari-Ankara, Turkey. boyvat@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
Contact Dermatitis
|June 4, 2005
Summary
This study identified common preservatives causing contact dermatitis in Turkey. Thimerosal and benzalkonium chloride were frequent triggers, though clinical relevance varied.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Contact dermatitis is a common skin condition.
- Preservatives are frequent allergens causing contact dermatitis.
- Identifying specific allergens is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of contact sensitivity to 14 common preservatives in Turkish patients with contact dermatitis.
- To assess the prevalence of specific preservative allergens.
- To evaluate the clinical relevance of identified allergens.
Main Methods:
- Patch testing was performed on 308 patients diagnosed with contact dermatitis between 2000 and 2004.
- Patients were tested with the European standard series plus 10 additional preservatives.
- Positive reactions were analyzed to identify causative agents.
Main Results:
- Twenty-three out of 308 patients (7.5%) showed positive reactions to one or more preservatives.
- Thimerosal (1.6%), benzalkonium chloride (1.6%), and formaldehyde (1.3%) were the most frequent causes of positive reactions.
- 65% of positive reactions were due to allergens not in the standard series, including thimerosal, benzalkonium chloride, and methyldibromoglutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (MDBGN/PE).
Conclusions:
- Thimerosal and benzalkonium chloride are significant contact allergens in the Turkish population.
- Standard patch test series may need updating to include frequently encountered allergens.
- Further investigation is needed to establish the clinical relevance of thimerosal sensitivity.