[csda] Link between skin and airways regarding sensitivity to fragrance products (fwd)

[Guest guest]

products

A link between skin and airways regarding sensitivity to fragrance

products?

Elberling J, Linneberg A, Mosbech H, Dirksen A, Frolund L, Madsen F,

Nielsen NH, Johansen JD.

The National Allergy Reseasrch Centre for Consumer Products,

Department of Dermatology, Gentofte University Hospital, Ledreborg

Alle 40,1, DK-2820 Gentofte, Denmark. jeel@...

Br J Dermatol. 2004 Dec;151(6):1197-203.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to volatile fragrances is commonplace and may be

related to various eye and airway symptoms. Skin exposure to

fragrances is known to cause perfume contact allergy and eczema, but

it is unknown whether eye or airway symptoms elicited by fragrance

products are associated with contact allergy or eczema.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if eye and airway symptoms elicited by

fragrance products are associated with perfume contact allergy or

hand eczema in a population-based sample.

METHODS: A questionnaire on eye and airway symptoms elicited by

fragrance products was mailed to 1189 individuals who had recently

participated in a Danish population-based study of allergic diseases.

Results from the questionnaire about localization and character of

the symptoms were compared with data on patch testing and 1-year

prevalence of hand eczema collected during the health examination.

RESULTS: Positive, independent and significant (P < 0.05)

associations were found between eye and airway symptoms elicited by

fragrance products and perfume contact allergy (adjusted odds ratios

2.0-3.7) and hand eczema (adjusted odds ratios 1.6-2.6). In further

analysis, similar and consistent results were found regarding

severity of the symptoms. No associations were found between nickel

contact allergy and the symptoms. Female sex and psychological

vulnerability were independently associated with eye and airway

symptoms elicited by fragrance products, but adjustment in

multivariate analysis did not change the results regarding perfume

contact allergy and hand eczema.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with perfume contact allergy and/or hand

eczema, as opposed to those without, have more frequent and more

severe eye or airway symptoms after exposure to volatile fragrance

products. Having hand eczema has the greatest impact on reporting eye

and airway symptoms elicited by fragrance products.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstract & list_uids=15606515 & query_hl=50 & it

ool=pubmed_DocSum

PMID: 15606515 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]