Contact dermatitis from electrocardiograph-monitoring electrodes: role of p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin.

Three cases of allergic contact dermatitis localized to the sites of electrocardiograph-monitoring electrodes are reported. All patients had positive patch tests to both the gel and the adhesive part of the Red Dot 2239 3M monitoring electrode used and to the p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-F-R) of the standard series. Two patients had a history of possible exposition to the resin previously but there was no explanation for the third. No information about the presence of PTBP-F-R in the electrodes could be obtained from the manufacturers. Chemical analysis of samples of the electrode, using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical system, demonstrated the presence of several PTBP-F-R derivatives in both the gel and the adhesive part.