Sensitization and Development of Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by a Single Contact with an Electrosurgical Grounding Plate Containing Acrylates

Abstract

Acrylates are known as potent sensitizers which can cause sensitization even during patch testing. A single exposure to concentrated acrylates can induce primary sensitization and contact dermatitis. Here we describe a 50-year-old man who developed contact dermatitis at the site of an electrosurgical grounding plate 2 weeks after orthopedic surgery. Patch testing revealed positive reactions to the electrosurgical plate and its components hydroxyethyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. As the patient has never had contact with acrylate-containing materials before, there is a high probability of primary sensitization by a single contact with the grounding plate during surgery.

2‐Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA): A clinical review of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis—Part 1. Introduction, epidemiology, case series and case reports

“…A 50‐year‐old man underwent orthopaedic surgery due to a cervical spinal stenosis 128 . Two weeks later, erythema, oedema and scaling developed exactly at the previous site of an electrosurgical grounding plate on the left thigh.…”

“…The patient had never had any contact with dental materials or glues containing acrylates before and no acrylic bone cement had been used during surgery. Therefore, the patient was probably sensitised by HEA, HEMA or both from contact with the acrylate‐containing adhesive on the grounding plate used to fix the electrodes on the skin 128 …”

Occupational methacrylate and acrylate allergy from glues

“…mono‐component ultraviolet (UV)‐cured acrylic glues have also caused contact allergy (10–12), while bi‐component acrylic glues form another potentially sensitizing group of products (13). Non‐occupational sources of sensitization include nail glues, adhesives in electrosurgical grounding plates (14), and glues in insulin pump infusion sets (15, 16).…”

Anaphylactoid reaction to Haemaccel® infusion and contact sensitization to Opticlude® orthoptic eye patches: a case report

“…The following case report relates to severe bronchospasm, an anaphylactoid reaction to Haemaccel ® , without adverse cardiovascular events and its management with an adrenergic agent. There has been no case report of contact sensitization to Opticlude ® orthoptic eye patches; however, incidents of acrylate allergy to artificial fingernails and electrosurgical ground plates have been reported in the literature 3–7 …”

“…There has been no case report of contact sensitization to Opticlude ® orthoptic eye patches; however, incidents of acrylate allergy to artificial fingernails and electrosurgical ground plates have been reported in the literature. [3][4][5][6][7]…”