Occupational contact urticaria caused by cyclic acid anhydrides

Abstract

Contact urticaria may be more common than previously believed. Prick tests with HSA-acid anhydride conjugates were a useful test method for detecting immediate sensitization to acid anhydrides. The determination of the specific IgE gave almost equal results. The open application test often had to be performed with the undiluted anhydride product to obtain a positive test result.

An evaluation of respiratory health at a syntactic foam manufacturing facility.

“…We know that many causes of allergic asthma exist in the facility. Exposure to epoxy resin systems containing ingredients such as amines, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, and anhydrides including methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride can cause allergic reactions (both immediate and delayed), dermatitis, and asthma [Fawcett et al 1977;Nielsen et al 1989;Kanerva et al 1991;Nielsen et al 1992;Patussi et al 1995;Yokota et al 1999;Nielsen et al 2001;Yokota et al 2002;Nielsen et al 2006;Hannu et al 2009;Helaskoski et al 2009;Malo and Chan-Yeung 2009;Foti et al 2010]. In addition to allergic sensitizers, workers may have been exposed to irritant causes of work-related asthma such as butanediol diglycidyl ether, aliphatic amines, anhydrides, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, and milled fibers.…”

Chemical allergens—What are the issues?

“…In addressing this question there has been one recent report that may have the potential to shed some new light on this issue. On of the classes of chemical most commonly associated with sensitisation of the respiratory tract and occupational asthma is the acid anhydrides, and a paper published by Helaskoski et al (2009) has investigated a small group of patients diagnosed with occupational contact urticaria (another manifestation of chemical allergy) to various acid anhydrides, including among others phthalic anhydride. They report sensitisation was invariably associated with a positive skin prick test (SPT) to the causative chemical, a positive skin prick test reflecting the availability of allergen-specific IgE antibody.…”

Occupational contact allergy to components of polyester resin systems

“…These chemicals very rarely cause delayed-type contact sensitization, but they may induce immediate contact allergy. A relatively recent series of 21 acid anhydride contact urticaria cases at the FIOH included 1 case caused by maleic acid anhydride in the production of polyester resins (23).…”