No abstract

Concomitant contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers remains common among patients with allergic contact dermatitis. Concentration of free formaldehyde in cosmetic products within allowed limits have been shown to induce dermatitis from short-term use on normal skin.The aim of this study was to investigate the formaldehyde content of cosmetic products made in Lithuania. 42 samples were analysed with the chromotropic acid (CA) method for semi-quantitative formaldehyde determination. These included 24 leave-on (e.g., creams, lotions) and 18 rinse-off (e.g., shampoos, soaps) products. Formaldehyde releasers were declared on the labels of 10 products. No formaldehyde releaser was declared on the label of the only face cream investigated, but levels of free formaldehyde with the CA method was >40 mg/ml and when analysed with a high-performance liquid chromatographic method – 532 ppm. According to the EU Cosmetic directive, if the concentration of formaldehyde is above 0.05% a cosmetic product must be labelled “contains formaldehyde“. It could be difficult for patients allergic to formaldehyde to avoid contact with products containing it as its presence cannot be determined from the ingredient labelling with certainty. The CA method is a simple and reliable method for detecting formaldehyde presence in cosmetic products.

Background. Metals are very frequent sensitizers causing contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis worldwide; up-to-date data based on patch test results has proved useful for the identification of a problem. Objectives. In this retrospective study prevalence of contact allergy to metals (nickel, chromium, palladium, gold, cobalt, and titanium) in Lithuania is analysed. Patients/Methods. Clinical and patch test data of 546 patients patch tested in 2014–2016, in Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, was analysed and compared with previously published data. Results. Almost third of tested patients (29.56%) were sensitized to nickel. Younger women were more often sensitized to nickel than older ones (36% versus 22.8%, p = 0.0011). Women were significantly more often sensitized to nickel than men (33% versus 6.1%, p < 0.0001). Younger patients were more often sensitized to cobalt (11.6% versus 5.7%, p = 0.0183). Sensitization to cobalt was related to sensitization to nickel (p < 0.0001). Face dermatitis and oral discomfort were related to gold allergy (28% versus 6.9% dermatitis of other parts, p < 0.0001). Older patients were patch test positive to gold(I) sodium thiosulfate statistically significantly more often than younger ones (44.44% versus 21.21%, p = 0.0281). Conclusions. Nickel, gold, cobalt, and chromium are leading metal sensitizers in Lithuania. Cobalt sensitization is often accompanied by sensitization to nickel. Sensitivity rate to palladium and nickel indicates possible cross-reactivity. No sensitization to titanium was found.

klinika, 2 Vilniaus universitetas, 3 VšĮ Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Pulmonologijos ir alergologijos centras Santrumpos ACT -Astmos kontrolės testas ACQ -Astmos kontrolės klausimynas AKFI -angiotenziną konvertuojančio fermento inhibitoriai ANCA -antibranduoliniai citoplazminiai antikūnai ATS -Amerikos krūtinės draugija DAI -dozuoto aerozolio inhaliatorius DMI -dozuotų miltelių inhaliatorius ERS -Europos respiratologų draugija FeNO -frakcinė iškvepiamo azoto oksido koncentracija FEV 1 -forsuotai iškvepiamas tūris per pirmąją sekundę FVC -forsuota gyvybinė plaučių talpa GERL -gastroezofaginio refliukso liga GINA -Pasaulinė astmos iniciatyva GGK -geriamasis(-ieji) gliukokortikoidas(-ai) IgE -E klasės imunoglobulinas IGK -įkvepiamasis(-ieji) gliukokortikoidas(-ai) IL-5 -interleukinas penktas IVBA -ilgo veikimo įkvepiamasis(-ieji) β 2 -ago nistas(-ai) IVMB -ilgo veikimo įkvepiamasis muskarino receptorių blokatorius HbCO -karboksihemoblobinas LOPL -lėtinė obstrukcinė plaučių liga NO -azoto oksidas PEF -didžiausias iškvėpimo srovės greitis TLK -Tarptautinė ligų klasifikacija TVBA -trumpo veikimo įkvepiamasis(-ieji) β 2 -agonistas(-ai)TVMB -trumpo veikimo įkvepiamasis(-ieji) anticho linerginis(-iai) vaistas (-ai)

This study provides current information on the prevalence of contact allergy in Lithuania. Changing trends in sensitivity to some allergens probably reflect changes in exposure.