Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contact Urticaria and Contact Urticaria Syndrome

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Environment and Skin

Abstract

Contact urticaria, contact urticaria syndrome (CUS), protein contact dermatitis (PCD), and oral allergy syndrome (OAS) are diseases which are precipitated by immediate contact skin and mucous membrane reactions. They may be the result of a specific immune reaction after sensitization to a high or low molecular weight compound (ICoU), or they are mediated by a nonimmunological reaction which needs no prior sensitization (NICoU). Compounds in numerous environmental materials which can come in contact with the skin are able to induce contact urticaria such as animal dander, plants, foods and flavorings, enzymes, cosmetics including fragrances and preservatives, medications, disinfectants, and metals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Gimenez-Arnau A, Maurer M, De La Cuadra J, Maibach H. Immediate contact skin reactions, an update of contact urticaria, contact urticaria syndrome and protein contact dermatitis – “A Never Ending Story”. Eur J Dermatol. 2010;20(5):552–62.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wang CY, Maibach HI. Immunologic contact urticaria – the human touch. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2016;32:154–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Von Krogh C, Maibach HI. The contact urticaria syndrome. An update review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1981;5:328–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kim E, Maibach H. Contact urticarial. In: Greaves MW, Kaplan AP, editors. Urticaria and angioedema. New York, Basel: Marcel Dekker Inc.; 2004. p. 149–69.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  5. Verhulst L, Goossens A. Cosmetic components causing contact urticaria: a review and update. Contact Dermatitis. 2016;75(6):333–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gimenez-Arnau E. Chemical compounds as trigger factors of immediatw ontact skin reactions. In: Giménez-Arnau AM, Maibach HI, editors. Contact urticaria syndrome. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2015. p. 67–77.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kireche M, Gimenez-Arnau E, Lepoittevin JP. Preservatives in cosmetics: reactivity of allergenic formaldehyde-releasers towards amino acids through breakdown products other than formaldehyde. Contact Dermatitis. 2010;63(4):192–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kujala T, Lahti A. Duration of inhibition of non-immunologic immediate contact reactions by acetylsalicylic acid. Contact Dermatitis. 1989;21(1):60–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lahti A, Väänänen A, Kokkonen EL, Hannuksela M. Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits non-immunologic contact urticaria. Contact Dermatitis. 1987;16(3):133–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hoffmann HJ, Santos AF, Mayorga C, Nopp A, Eberlein B, Ferrer M, Rouzaire P, Ebo DG, Sabato V, Sanz ML, Pecaric-Petkovic T, Patil SU, Hausmann OV, Shreffler WG, Korosec P, Knol EF. The clinical utility of basophil activation testing in diagnosis and monitoring of allergic disease. Allergy. 2015;70(11):1393–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. North CM, Ezendam J, Hotchkiss JA, Maier C, Aoyama K, Enoch S, Goetz A, Graham C, Kimber I, Karjalainen A, Pauluhn J, Roggen EL, Selgrade M, Tarlo SM, Chen CL. Developing a framework for assessing chemical respiratory sensitization: a workshop report. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016;80:295–309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pauluhn J. Development of a respiratory sensitization/elicitation protocol of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) in Brown Norway rats to derive an elicitation-based occupational exposure level. Toxicology. 2014;319:10–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gimenez-Arnau A. Contact urticaria and the environment. Rev Environ Health. 2014;29:207–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Helaskoski E, Suojalehto H, Kuuliala O, Aalto-Korte K. Prick testing with chemicals in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticarial and respiratory diseases. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;72:20–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Giménez-Arnau AM, Maibach HI. Contact urticaria syndrome. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fukutomi Y, Itagaki Y, Taniguchi M, Saito A, Yasueda H, Nakazawa T, Hasegawa M, Nakamura H, Akiyama K. Rhinoconjunctival sensitization to hydrolyzed wheat protein in facial soap can induce wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(2):531–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Fukutomi Y, Taniguchi M, Nakamura H, Akiyama K. Epidemiological link between wheat allergy and exposure to hydrolyzed wheat protein in facial soap. Allergy. 2014;69(10):1405–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Adachi R, Nakamura R, Sakai S, Fukutomi Y, Teshima R. Sensitization to acid-hydrolyzed wheat protein by transdermal administration to BALB/c mice, and comparison with gluten. Allergy. 2012;67(11):1392–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Leheron C, Bourrier T, Albertini M, Giovannini-Chami L. Immediate contact urticaria caused by hydrolysed wheat proteins in a child via maternal skin contact sensitization. Contact Dermatitis. 2013;68(6):379–80. doi:10.1111/cod.12046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Nakamura R, Nakamura R, Sakai S, Adachi R, Hachisuka A, Urisu A, Fukutomi Y, Teshima R. Tissue transglutaminase generates deamidated epitopes on gluten, increasing reactivity with hydrolyzed wheat protein-sensitized IgE. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;132(6):1436.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Inomata N, Nagashima M, Hakuta A, Aihara M. Food allergy preceded by contact urticaria due to the same food: involvement of epicutaneous sensitization in food allergy. Allergol Int. 2015;64(1):73–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Amaro C, Goossens A. Immunological occupational contact urticaria and contact dermatitis from proteins: a review. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;58(2):67–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Doutre MS. Occupational contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis. Eur J Dermatol. 2005;15(6):419–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vanstreels L, Merk HF. Protein contact dermatitis in a butcher. Hautarzt. 2012;63(12):926–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lukacs J, Schliemann S, Elsner P. Occupational contact urticaria caused by food – a systematic clinical review. Contact Dermatitis. 2016;75(4):195–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ott H, Schröder C, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Mahler V, Ocklenburg C, Merk HF, Baron JM. Microarrays of recombinant Hevea brasiliensis proteins: a novel tool for the component-resolved diagnosis of natural rubber latex allergy. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2010;20(2):129–38.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ott H, Baron JM, Heise R, Ocklenburg C, Stanzel S, Merk HF, Niggemann B, Beyer K. Clinical usefulness of microarray-based IgE detection in children with suspected food allergy. Allergy. 2008;63(11):1521–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Erdmann SM, Heussen N, Moll-Slodowy S, Merk HF, Sachs B. CD63 expression on basophils as a tool for the diagnosis of pollen-associated food allergy: sensitivity and specificity. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003;33(5):607–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Erdmann SM, Sachs B, Schmidt A, Merk HF, Scheiner O, Moll-Slodowy S, Sauer I, Kwiecien R, Maderegger B, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K. In vitro analysis of birch-pollen-associated food allergy by use of recombinant allergens in the basophil activation test. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005;136(3):230–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Vanstreels L, Merk HF. Value of in-vitro diagnostic tools after anaphylaxis. Hautarzt. 2013;64(2):93–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ott H, Lehmann S, Wurpts G, Merk HF, Viardot-Helmer A, Rietschel E, Baron JM. Anaphylaxis in childhood and adolescence. Hautarzt. 2007;58(12):1032–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology & Allergology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Hans F. Merk

  2. Dohlenfeld 8, 45479 Muelheim an der Ruhr, Auf’m Hennekamp 50, Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany

    Hans F. Merk

Authors
  1. Hans F. Merk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans F. Merk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Jean Krutmann

  2. Universitätsklinikum Aachen Klinik für Dermatologie u. Allergologie, Aachen, Germany

    Hans F. Merk

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Merk, H.F. (2018). Contact Urticaria and Contact Urticaria Syndrome. In: Krutmann, J., Merk, H. (eds) Environment and Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43102-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43102-4_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43100-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43102-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation