Trends in the Prevalence of Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone Contact Allergy in North America and Europe

Reeder MJ, Warshaw E, Aravamuthan S, Belsito DV, Geier J, Wilkinson M, Atwater AR, White IR, Silverberg JI, Taylor JS, Fowler Jr JF, Maibach HI, Dekoven JG, Buhl T, Botto N, Gimenez-Arnau AM, Gallo R, Mowad C, Lang CCV, Deleo VA, Johnston G, Pratt MD, Brockow K, Adler BL, Houle MC, Dickel H, Schuttelaar MLA, Yu J, Spiewak R, Dunnick C, Filon FL, Valiukeviciene S, Uter W (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.5991

Abstract

Importance The common use of isothiazolinones as preservatives is a global cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Differences in allowable concentrations of methylisothiazolinone (MI) exist in Europe, Canada, and the US. Objective To compare the prevalence of positive patch test reactions to the methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) combination and MI alone in North America and Europe from 2009 to 2018. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group, European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA), and the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) databases included data from patients presenting for patch testing at referral patch test clinics in North America and Europe. Exposures Patch tests to MCI/MI and MI. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis to MCI/MI and MI. Results From 2009 to 2018, participating sites in North America and Europe patch tested a total of 226 161 individuals to MCI/MI and 118 779 to MI. In Europe, positivity to MCI/MI peaked during 2013 and 2014 at 7.6% (ESSCA) and 5.4% (IVDK) before decreasing to 4.4% (ESSCA) and 3.2% (IVDK) during 2017 and 2018. Positive reactions to MI were 5.5% (ESSCA) and 3.4% (IVDK) during 2017 and 2018. In North America, the frequency of positivity to MCI/MI increased steadily through the study period, reaching 10.8% for MCI/MI during 2017 and 2018. Positive reactions to MI were 15.0% during 2017 and 2018. Conclusions and Relevance The study results suggest that in contrast to the continued increase in North America, isothiazolinone allergy is decreasing in Europe. This trend may coincide with earlier and more stringent government regulation of MI in Europe.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) Germany (DE) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust United Kingdom (GB) Lithuanian University of Health Sciences / Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universitetas (LSMU) Lithuania (LT) Jagiellonian University / Uniwersytet Jagielloński (UJ) Poland (PL) University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Netherlands (NL) Duke University United States (USA) (US) Columbia University United States (USA) (US) Università degli Studi di Trieste Italy (IT) Guy's Hospital United Kingdom (GB) Harvard University United States (USA) (US) HealthPartners United States (USA) (US) Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Germany (DE) University of Colorado System United States (USA) (US) George Washington University (GWU) United States (USA) (US) Geisinger Medical Center United States (USA) (US) Cleveland Clinic United States (USA) (US) Technische Universität München (TUM) Germany (DE) University of California San Francisco (UCSF) United States (USA) (US) Université Laval (UL) Canada (CA) University of Leicester United Kingdom (GB) University of Ottawa Canada (CA) University of Genova / Università degli Studi di Genova Italy (IT) University of Wisconsin - Madison United States (USA) (US) Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Spain (ES) University of Toronto Canada (CA) University of Southern California (USC) United States (USA) (US) University of Louisville (UofL) United States (USA) (US) Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ) Switzerland (CH)

How to cite

APA:

Reeder, M.J., Warshaw, E., Aravamuthan, S., Belsito, D.V., Geier, J., Wilkinson, M.,... Uter, W. (2023). Trends in the Prevalence of Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone Contact Allergy in North America and Europe. JAMA Dermatology. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.5991

MLA:

Reeder, Margo J., et al. "Trends in the Prevalence of Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone Contact Allergy in North America and Europe." JAMA Dermatology (2023).

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