Medical adhesive allergens: Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data from the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 2001-2018

Abstract

Identification of allergens causing medical adhesive contact allergy is difficult. To characterize the demographics, clinical characteristics, patch test results, and occupational data for North American Contact Dermatitis Group patients with medical adhesive contact allergy. A retrospective study of 43,722 North American Contact Dermatitis Group patients patch tested from 2001 to 2018 with medical adhesive (tapes/bandaids/adhesive aids/suture glue) sources, positive patch test results, and final primary diagnoses of allergic contact dermatitis. In total, 313 (0.7%) patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with other patients with final primary diagnoses of allergic contact dermatitis, patients with a medical adhesive allergy were less likely to be male (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.45-0.77) and/or aged >40years (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60-0.96). The most common North American Contact Dermatitis Group screening series allergens were colophony (80.7%), balsam of Peru (3.9%), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2.7%), and carba mix (2.7%). One-fourth of the patients (79/313, 25.2%) had positive patch test reactions to supplemental allergens/materials, and 54 (17.3%) of the 313 patients only had reactions to supplemental allergens/materials. Results of comprehensive patch testing may be prone to referral population selection bias and may not be representative of the general dermatology population. Colophony was the most common allergen. Supplemental allergens and materials should be tested in the evaluation of a suspected medical adhesive contact allergy.