Allergic contact dermatitis caused by dipropylene glycol diacrylate in the Omnipod® insulin pump

Background: Cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) in the Omnipod® insulin pump have previously been reported. Objectives: To present three cases of patients with ACD caused by a new allergen in the pump, and results from chemical analyses. Methods: Omnipod pumps from different batches were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Aimed testing, with the department’s medical device (MD) series and substances identified in the pump including dipropylene glycol diacrylate (DPGDA) at 0·01% and 0·1% in petrolatum (pet.), was performed. Patch testing also included extracts from the device, the adhesive patch as is, and allergens from baseline series. Results: All patients tested positive to 0·1% DPGDA in pet., and two patients additionally to a 0·01% concentration. DPGDA was found in extracts of the Omnipod pumps brought by the patients. An Omnipod pump from an earlier batch contained tripropylene glycol diacrylate, IBOA, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, di(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether acrylate (DEGEA) but no DPGDA. One of the patients reacted positively to all of these allergens except DEGEA, which was not tested. Conclusions: When suspecting ACD to MDs, DPGDA at 0·1% in pet. should be tested. The contents of Omnipod have changed over time. Patch testing with updated test series and relevance assessment of positive reactions is a delicate task. Children, with lifelong use of MDs, risk contracting many allergies with potential cross-allergies. A question should be raised as to whether these low molecular weight acrylates should be used at all in devices constantly worn on the skin

Continuous glucose monitoring systems give contact dermatitis in children and adults despite efforts of providing less ‘allergy- prone’ devices : investigation and advice hampered by insufficient material for optimized patch test investigations

Background: Medical devices are increasingly being reported to cause contact allergic dermatitis reactions. Objective: Review of patients with diabetes type I referred for suspected allergic contact dermatitis to insulin pump or glucose sensor systems. Method: We have reviewed 11 referred diabetes mellitus patients investigated for allergic contact dermatitis reactions to medical devices and specifically Dexcom G6®. Extracts from the medical devices were analysed. Results: The majority of patients was children, the majority had relevant allergies and particularly allergy to isobornyl acrylate which was also found in the glucose sensor system Dexcom G6®. Conclusions: The following case reports bring in focus the fact that patients sensitized through use of one medical device and being advised the use of another, or find another product for a while useful, are not by necessity free from future episodes of allergic contact dermatitis. The case reports emphasize the need for collaboration since it is impossible for even well-equipped laboratories to properly investigate the medical devices when information on the substances used in production is not uniform and complete and material to investigate are scarce. The importance of adequate patch test series and testing with own material and furthermore the importance to re-analyse medical devices and re-analyse test data are emphasized

Occupational Contact Dermatitis-Thoughts on Establishing of Contact Allergy to Products Containing Well Known as Well as Initially Unidentified Sensitizers

Occupational dermatosis are common all over the world. The prevalence depends on many factors including whether the legal system acknowledges both causation and aggravation of occupational dermatosis