Contact allergy to electrocardiogram electrodes caused by acrylic acid without sensitivity to methacrylates and ethyl cyanoacrylate

Acrylate and methacrylate allergy: When is patch testing with acrylic acid recommended?

“…In this study the prevalence of contact allergy to acrylic acid in 436 patients was 0.5% with two relevant positive reactions, both due to the presence of this monomer as an impurity in the hydrogel part of ECG electrodes. This observation suggests a role of medical devices as a source of (meth)acrylate allergy, particularly with regard to electrodes . Recently, acrylic acid sensitivity was also described in a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to isobornyl acrylate contained in glucose sensor …”

“…Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the test preparation of acrylic acid at the end of the study period were performed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H‐NMR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, as previously reported . In particular, samples of the saline solution test preparations with acrylic acid were investigated by HPLC, performed in triplicate using an Agilent1260 Infinity Quaternary LC System.…”

“…In the last 5 years, allergic contact dermatitis due to monomeric acrylic acid (CAS no. 79–10‐7) contained as an impurity in electrode hydrogel for electrocardiogram (ECG) and transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation (TENS), was reported . The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of acrylic acid contact sensitivity in consecutive patients, the sources of its sensitivity, and if 2‐HEMA is a good marker for detecting acrylic acid allergy.…”

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate in a hospital wristband

“…According to the ingredient list, 3 M Red Dot 2570 contained an acrylate glue and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and 3 M Red Dot 2249‐50 and 3 M Red Dot 2255 contained an acrylate copolymer. Previous studies have shown that (meth)acrylates or acrylic acid were the culprit allergens in patients with allergic contact dermatitis caused by contact with ECG electrodes . Therefore co‐sensitization could be another explanation for multiple reactivity to various (meth)acrylates in our patient.…”

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by isobornyl acrylate in a young diabetic patient using a continous glucose monitoring system (Freestyle Libre)

“…The positive reaction to acrylic acid was associated only with reactivity to 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, which have lower molecular weights and more polarized configurations than other acrylates tested. No cross‐reactivity was found between acrylic acid and other acrylates in another study . We emphasize the need for an alternative acrylate in continuous glucose monitoring systems to allow the use of these devices in IBOA‐allergic patients.…”