The cause of the Chinese sofa/chair dermatitis epidemic is likely to be contact allergy to dimethylfumarate, a novel potent contact sensitizer

Abstract

A small epidemic of severe contact dermatitis cases related to newly acquired sofas and chairs has surpassed the news threshold in Finland and the U.K. To study affected patients and to identify the cause. Five patients with contact dermatitis related to a newly purchased chair or sofa were studied. Furniture samples were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds were identified using a mass spectrum library and measured semiquantitatively. Patch tests were performed with commercial standard allergens, furniture upholstery and chemicals found in the analysis. Patch tests with commercial allergens did not solve the problem. Up to 470 microg kg(-1) of dimethylfumarate was found in chairs. The patients showed strong positive patch test reactions to upholstery fabric samples and to dimethylfumarate, down to a level of 1 p.p.m. in the most severe case. The cause of the Chinese sofa/chair dermatitis epidemic is likely to be contact allergy to dimethylfumarate, a novel potent contact sensitizer.