Contact allergy to hair colouring products. The cosmetovigilance experience of 4 companies (2003-2006).

The post-marketing undesirable events to hair colouring products in the European Union notified to the cosmetovigilance departments of four major cosmetic companies were analysed (2003-2006). The objective was to determine whether there was any time effect (trend to increase or decrease), country effect (significant difference between the countries included in the analysis) or product type effect (direct or oxidation), as well as to identify risk factors. Alleged undesirable events (UEvs, all notifications prior to causality assessment), were compared to the respective undesirable effects (UEfs, reasonably attributable to product use). A detailed analysis was performed on notifications with manifestations compatible with allergic contact dermatitis. No time effect of UEvs and UEfs was shown, for all hair-dye associated notifications and for allergic contact dermatitis, for all hair colouring products together and by product type. The incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to direct hair colouring products was lower for all four companies compared to oxidative hair dyes. The reporting rates of UEfs were statistically higher in the UK for one of four companies. Past history of black henna tattoos appeared as a major risk factor for seriousness of allergic contact reactions.

Safety Review of 5-Grass Pollen Tablet from Pooled Data of Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: The 5-grass pollen sublingual tablet has been approved for the treatment of grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in subjects with or without intermittent asthma. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive analysis of the safety profile of the 5-grass tablet on the basis of pooled data from 8 clinical trials. METHODS: Subjects (5-65 years old) with medically confirmed grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were included in the double-blind studies. Those with intermittent asthma not requiring treatment other than inhaled beta-2 agonists could participate. Randomized subjects received a 5-grass or placebo tablet daily 2 or 4 months preseasonally and coseasonally (5 single-season studies, over 3 years in a long-term study) or outside the season (phase I studies). Adverse events were pooled and analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Among 2,512 subjects enrolled, 1,514 received the 5-grass tablet. A total of 1,038 adults and 154 pediatric (5-17 years old) subjects were treated with the 300 Index of Reactivity dose (vs 840 and 158 placebo recipients, respectively); 17% had intermittent asthma, and 62% were polysensitized. Adverse reactions (ADRs) reported in more than 10% of actively treated subjects were mild or moderate application-site reactions, for example, oral pruritus 25% (placebo 4%) and throat irritation 21% (placebo 3%). These generally occurred during the first week of treatment and decreased over time. They led to discontinuation in less than 2.5% of subjects. None of the 3 serious ADRs were reports of anaphylaxis. No notable differences were detected in terms of incidence, nature, and severity of ADRs between adult and pediatric populations, nor between subjects with or without asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The pooled analysis in 1,514 subjects from 8 clinical studies demonstrates that the 5-grass pollen sublingual tablet has a similar good safety profile in adult and pediatric patients with or without mild, intermittent asthma.

Safety and tolerability of 5-grass pollen tablet sublingual immunotherapy: pooled analysis and clinical review.

INTRODUCTION: The 5-grass pollen tablet (Oralair®, Stallergenes, Antony, France) is a once-daily preseasonal and coseasonal sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) that is effective in controlling the symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and in reducing the need for symptomatic medication. AREAS COVERED: The body of safety data gathered from the 5-grass pollen tablet clinical development program, post-approval studies, and more than 6 years of real-life experience demonstrates the safety and tolerability profile of the 5-grass pollen tablet across all age groups. Adverse events (AEs) are generally mild or moderate in severity, and rarely lead to treatment discontinuation. AEs also tend to decline in frequency and severity over time and with repeated treatment. The most frequent treatment-emergent AEs are local-site oropharyngeal reactions (e.g., oral pruritus, throat irritation, tongue pruritus, mouth edema, ear pruritus), which are consistent with the sublingual route of administration. EXPERT OPINION: The first dose of the 5-grass pollen tablet should be administered under the supervision of an experienced physician, to allow for optimal monitoring and timely management of AEs, should they occur. The 5-grass pollen tablet can be administered at home after the first dose, and patients and carers should be educated on how to manage adverse reactions, unplanned treatment interruptions and situations in which SLIT should be withheld.

Consumer allergy to oxidative hair coloring products: epidemiologic data in the literature.

Oxidative hair dyes have repeatedly come to the attention of the dermatologic community owing to concerns about contact dermatitis. A review of the scientific literature provides insight into the prevalence of p-phenylenediamine (PPD)-sensitized individuals and on the prevalence of hair dye dermatitis in various types of patient and nonpatient populations mainly from Europe and from the United States and Asia. Most of the results are obtained through patch testing with PPD. PPD is one of the main oxidation colorants; however, patch-test prevalence of PPD is not equivalent to prevalence of hair dye allergy. An analysis shows no clear increase in the frequency of positive patch-test reactions to PPD in eczema patients and in the general population. All the parameters through which the frequency of hair dye dermatitis resulting from exposure to PPD is evaluated have been stable in Europe, with a few exceptions that are discussed in the review. There is a statistically significant decrease (p < .0001) in the prevalence of positive patch-test reactions to PPD in North America (1970 to 2002). Data from studies in Asia are difficult to interpret. Pooled prevalence rates of positive patch-test reactions to PPD were calculated for the three continents.