P61 EPOX 2002: concomitant sensitizations to epoxy resin components

Objective: The study EPOX 2002 is performed to detect the most frequent allergens in epoxy resin systems (ES) currently in use. In particular, concomitant test reactions are analysed to identify possible ‘indicator’ allergens for a future ES test series. Methods: Multicenter study within the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group (DKG) and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) with 27 ES components. Results: From Oct. 2002 to Nov. 2003, 120 patients have been tested with the preliminary ES series. Of the 49 patients reacting to epoxy resin based on diglycidylether of bisphenol F (DGEBF), 44 also reacted to the standard epoxy resin based on diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), i.e., 90%(95%-CI [confidence interval]: 78%-97%). Out of 21 patients positive to 1,4-butanediol diglycidylether (BDDGE), 18 also reacted to 1,6-hexanediol diglycidylether (HDDGE)(86%; 95%-CI: 64%-97%). All 8 patients with allergic reaction to cresyl glycidylether (CGE) also reacted to phenyl glycidylether (PGE). Concomitant reactions to PGE and p-tert butylphenyl glycidylether (PTBPGE) occured in 9 patients, while 5 patients reacted to PGE without reaction to PTBPGE and 6 patients vice versa. Conclusions: Immunological cross sensitization as well as frequent concomitant exposure to DGEBA and DGEBF epoxy resins is well known. Our data support testing a DGEBA resin as an indicator. HDDGE might serve as an indicator allergen for BDDGE; however, the sample size is too small yet to make a final decision. PGE obviously is a valuable tool to detect sensitization to CGE, but not to PTBPGE.