ISSN:
1600-0536
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Objectives: Diphenylmethane-4,4’-diisocyanate (MDI) is a very common isocyanate which is used in the plastics industry in its’ polymeric form in the production of polyurethane products such as rigid and flexible foams, elastomers (rubbers) and coatings. Previous reports on MDI-related contact allergy have shown a pattern where patients seem to react to their own MDI-based work material but not to the commercial patch test preparations of MDI. Therefore, we performed chemical analysis of 14 commercial patch test preparations of MDI.Materials and Methods: MDI preparations from 8 European and 4 American dermatology departments as well as preparations obtained from 2 major European suppliers of patch test allergens were analyzed with respect to MDI content using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS).Results: None of the preparations obtained from dermatology departments contained more than 12% of the concentration stated on the label. In most cases the MDI content was only a few percentages or less of the concentration stated. In only 1 commercial preparation the MDI content came close to the declared concentration.Conclusion: 7 of the 14 preparations were analyzed before the expiry date. Yet, only 1 of them contained a concentration that came close to that stated on the label. Thus, using these preparations patients will be tested with a much lower concentration than intended leading to a high risk of false-negative reactions and thereby underdiagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis from MDI.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.0309de.x
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