Active sensitization to dimethylthiocarbamylbenzothiazol sulphide: An unexpectedly strong rubber contact allergen.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The two dialkylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulphides, dimethyl-thiocarbamylbenzothiazole sulphide (DMTBS) and diethylthio-carbamylbenzothiazole sulphide (DETBS) were shown to be good markers of both thiuram and mercaptobenzothiazole sensitivity.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate if DMTBS and/or DETBS could be better markers of contact allergy to common rubber additives than the ones currently used.

METHODS:

Sixty-eight dermatitis patients were patch tested with DMTBS and DETBS, both at 1% in petrolatum (pet). Because of late reactions in 10 patients, these were retested to DMTBS and DETBS in serial dilutions. Tetramethylthiuram monosulphide (TMTM) 1.0% pet was also tested.

RESULTS:

At the initial reading Days 3 and 7, no reactions were noted to DMTBS or DETBS. At retesting, 10 of the 68 (15%) patients reacted positively to lower concentrations of DMTBS than the initial test concentration. Seven of 8 also reacted to TMTM. Three of them had positive reactions to DEBTS. All 10 patients had reactions to more diluted solutions to DMBTS than to DEBTS (p = 0.0077; Mc-Nemar test, two-sided).

CONCLUSIONS:

Results speak for patch test sensitization to DMTBS with cross-reactivity to TMTM and also DEBTS. DMTBS and DEBTS could be new markers of rubber allergy but a safe test concentration must be found.

• Authors: Marléne Isaksson, Ola Bergendorff, Nils Hamnerius, Ann Pontén, Cecilia Svedman, Inese Hauksson, Magnus Bruze
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 88 Issue 6 Pg. 472-479 (Jun 2023) ISSN: 1600-0536 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 36975130 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Rubber
• tetramethylthiuram monosulfide
• Allergens
• dimethyl sulfide
• Sulfides

Topics

• Humans
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis, etiology)
• Rubber (adverse effects)
• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Patch Tests (adverse effects)
• Sulfides (adverse effects)