phenanthrenes and Hand-Dermatoses

A connection between patch test reactions to paper extracts and contact allergy to rosin (colophony) has been demonstrated.. We wanted to determine whether a difference in the allergenic activity of various types of paper is related to a difference in the pulp.. Patients with dermatitis who were frequently exposed to paper were patch tested with extracts from various papers and the standard series. The extracts were also tested in volunteers with or without contact allergy to rosin and in animals. The rosin compounds in the papers were analyzed by gas chromatography.. The subjects reacting to paper extracts also reacted to rosin. Most reactions were found to the papers produced from mechanical pulps, which contained the highest analyzed amounts of rosin compounds. Animals sensitized to rosin reacted only to paper from mechanical pulp.. Papers based on mechanical pulps that are considered to be environmentally friendly have a greater potential to elicit positive patch test reactions than papers made from other pulps. The increased use of mechanical pulps in different applications may increase the incidence of rosin-related hand eczema.

Topics: Abietanes; Allergens; Animals; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Irritant; Dermatitis, Occupational; Diterpenes; Eczema; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Immunization; Male; Paper; Patch Tests; Phenanthrenes; Resins, Plant

Two groups of patients were studied, one with known contact allergy to colophony and hand eczema, 'colophony patients', and the other consisted of patients who suspected that their eczema was caused by contact with paper, 'paper patients'. The 'colophony patients' were patch tested with samples of newsprint paper, while the 'paper patients' were tested with samples of their own paper. Extracts of the paper and paper were applied. Testing with paper caused no reactions. All 'colophony patients' showed strong reactions to the tested extracts of newsprint paper. None of the 'paper patients' reacted to the extracts of their own paper, except those patch-test positive to colophony or maleopimaric acid, the main component of one type of modified colophony in paper size and shown experimentally to be a potent sensitizer. Colophony in paper may contribute to hand eczema in sensitized patients and the use of cotton gloves when in contact with paper might alleviate the dermatitis.

Topics: Abietanes; Dermatitis, Contact; Diterpenes; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Newspapers as Topic; Occupational Diseases; Paper; Patch Tests; Phenanthrenes; Resins, Plant; Triterpenes