Thermographic proof of “Flare up syndrome” in patient with allergy to acrylic materials

Abstract

We report the case of a 23-year-old female dental medicine student with contact dermatitis on her hands caused by methacrylates. Forty-eight-hour closed patch testing showed positive reactions to Ethylenglicol dimethacrylate, 1,6 -Hexanediol diacrylate, 1,4 -Butanediol dimethacrylate, Drometrizole . These are identified as contact allergens. They can be found in the dental materials, but also in the nail polish. It is therefore easy to be exposed to methacrylate in daily life. We measured the skin reaction during the patch test, and noticed that the temperature of the affected skin changes. The highest value was registered when the patches were applied, and the lowest -one week after the treatment. Background:The allergic contact dermatitis (ACT) is the most frequent manifestation of immunotoxicity in humans. (1) The disease has a strong social and economic effect .(2) ACT is a the 4-th type reaction by the classification of Coombs and Gell. The allergic reactions that we observed in patch-tests, can be measured by the temperature changes of the affected skin.(3,4) The method we applied to measure the patch test reactions, is also applicable for measurement of the intensity of the allergic reaction of the affected skin.(5) However, some studies show that the local lymph nodes are also involved in the reaction.(6) Initially we assumed that our patient`s symptoms are connected with the acrylic products

Thermographic examination of prick test reactions with local anesthetic

“…The thermographic assessment of the allergic skin test is also used for the patch test. The more intensive reactions indicate an increased temperature [12,13]. Szwedo and Tomaka calibrate the method and declare that the infrared thermography in the field of medicine should be further developed, as this will improve the evaluation of skin tests [14].…”