A NEW ALLERGEN - DIBROMODICYANOBUTANE - R ESULTS OF A STUDY IN 310 PATIENTS, FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1994

Introduction. Methylisothiazalinone chloride (Kathon CG) and its deriv atives, used as preservatives in cosmetics, have been shown to be alle rgenic when used in humans although preliminary studies in Guinea pigs failed to reveal any sensitization. Dibromodicyanobutane, associated with phenoxyethanol in Euxyl K400, has been proposed to replace the is orthiazolinone derivatives in cosmetics. Preliminary study has shown t hat these thiazolinone derivatives are not allergenic in Euxyl K400. T he similarity of these situations led us to hypothesize that dibromodi cyanobutane could become allergenic. Methods. We tested 0.1 p. 100 dib romodicyanabutane in vaseline in the additional battery of the ICDRG b attery in patients with contact eczema. Among the 310 patients tested, 1.94 p. 100 had a positive test for this allergen (during this same p eriod, 1.29 p. 100 of the patients were positive for isothiazolinones) . Three patients were hospitalized because of generalized eczema and 1 patient had changed occupation with no effect because the cremes cont aining the allergen had not been avoided. Conclusion. Dibromodicyanobu tane is a new allergen. Numerous cases of allergy have developed as us e of the product becomes more widespread. The consequences of this sen sitization may have an economic impact. Animal experimentation has bee n unable to predict this allergenic effect. Cosmetic products must be precisely labeled with a single international term for each specific m olecule and the name of the preservative added to the active substance .