10 years of patch testing with the (meth)acrylate series

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Toxicology

Background:

• (Meth)acrylates are widely used in various industries.
• Occupational and consumer exposure to (meth)acrylates can lead to allergic contact dermatitis.
• Understanding the sensitization potential of individual (meth)acrylates is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compile and analyze 10 years of patch testing data for 30 (meth)acrylates.
• To identify the most frequent (meth)acrylates causing allergic reactions in patients.
• To assess the limitations in determining the sensitization capacity of (meth)acrylates based on current data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patch test results from 275 patients over a 10-year period.
• Testing involved 30 different (meth)acrylate substances.
• Data collected on patient demographics and patch test reactions.

Main Results:

• 48 out of 275 patients (17.5%) showed allergic reactions to at least one (meth)acrylate.
• The most common allergens were 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA; 12.1%), 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2-HPMA; 12.0%), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA; 11.4%).
• Several (meth)acrylates, including 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA), did not elicit any allergic reactions in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• While certain (meth)acrylates are more frequently associated with allergic reactions, this data cannot establish a definitive sensitization ranking.
• Accurate assessment of (meth)acrylate sensitization requires detailed patient exposure history and information on the purity of tested substances.
• The presence of undeclared (meth)acrylates in commercial products complicates the evaluation of sensitization risks.