Background
Beside the basic resins, reactive diluents and hardeners are important sensitizers in epoxy resin systems (ERSs). Because of chemical similarities, immunological cross‐reactivity may occur.
Objectives
To analyse concomitant reactivity among reactive diluents and hardeners in the patients concerned, as one integral part of a research project on the sensitizing capacity of ERSs (FP‐0324).
Methods
A retrospective analysis of data from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 2002–2011, was performed.
Results
There was close concomitant reactivity to 1,6‐hexanediol diglycidyl ether and 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether (1,4‐BDDGE), and to phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) and cresyl glycidyl ether (CGE), whereas reactions to p‐tert‐butylphenyl glycidyl ether occurred more independently from those to PGE and CGE. Concomitant reactions to butyl glycidyl ether and 1,4‐BDDGE may point to a common allergenic compound derived from the metabolism of 1,4‐BDDGE. Among the structurally more diverse group of hardeners, there was no evidence of immunological cross‐reactions.
Conclusions
More detailed knowledge of cross‐reactivity among ERS components facilitates the interpretation of patch test results and will allow safer ERSs to be composed in the future.