Dermatosen in Beruf und Umwelt. Occupation and environment最新文献

We present the case of a 65-year-old woman with progressive systemic sclerosis. For 14 years, she had been occupationally exposed to scouring powder containing crystalline silica. In the skin of the finger of the patient, silica crystals were detected by polarizing microscopy. By means of a special dust measurement at the former working places where scouring powder was used, a silica exposition could be found exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations. Legal recognition of an occupational disease could be achieved in a special procedure by the top expert commission for occupational diseases.

The use of a trimmer for a lawn, which is covered with phototoxic plants such as Heracleum sphondylium and other Umbellifers, can lead to a phytophotodermatitis (trimmer's rash). An erythema of the light exposed skin, following a moderate hyperpigmentation, can cause a focal, vesicular lifting of the upper epidermis, whereby this toxic skin lesion appears similar to an allergic eczema. The best prevention of this harmless but bothersome reaction lies in the use of such an edger only in the evening hours.

The allergic contact dermatitis usually shows eczematous skin lesions. In few cases however pustular reactions can be observed. They are often caused by sensitization to metals and halogens. Herein we report a case occurring as pustulosis palmaris, that has been identified as an occupational allergic contact dermatitis to black rubber.

Detergent residues are often accused to cause efflorescences of the skin. In the present studies different textiles were washed under standardized conditions and the residues analyzed. Textile probes were patch tested for 48 h on seborrheic and sebostatic volunteers. A second series of textiles was given to babies and small children. In all cases no reactions were observed. According to these results and further literature the contribution of detergent residues as a releaser of skin reactions is rather insignificant.

A case of granuloma anulare induced through contact with nickel is described. The patch test with 5% nickel sulfate is positive.

Patch tests were performed according to the European Standard Allergens (ESA) in 204 cases suspected of contact dermatitis. The reaction was positive in 58.33% of the cases. The common allergens were nickel (15.7%), fragrance mix (11.8%) p-phenylenediamine (8.8%), colophony (6.9%), benzocaine (6.4%), formaldehyde (5.9%), black rubber mix (4.9%), cobalt (4.4%), balsam of Peru (3.9%), potassium dichromate (3.4%), thiuram mix (2.9%) and mercapto mix (2.9%). In 85 cases of negative reaction to the European Standard Allergens, 36 were patch tested to suspected agents based on the individual case histories, of which 21 positively reacted. The common sensitizing agents were ampicillin and thiomersal. Of 204 cases, 107 were cases of facial contact dermatitis. Patch tests showed that the most common allergens were p-phenylenediamine (15.9%), nickel (13.1%) and fragrance mix (14.95%).

The Effect of UV-Irradiation on the Hexachlorobenzene-induced Porphyria in an Experimental Animal Model Hexachlorobenzene is able to induce in humans and different animal species a hepatic porphyria, which is comparable to porphyria cutanea tarda. We studied whether hexachlorobenzene feeding could induce this porphyria also in hairless rats (Rowett-Nude), as these are suitable for photobiologic studies. After development of hepatic porphyria the rats were irradiated either with UV-A or UV-B light. Biochemical effects on the porphyrin metabolism and clinical as well as histologic skin changes were examined. In the liver of the porphyric rats, UV-A and UV-B irradiation induced increased aminolevulinic acid synthase activity accompanied with augmentation of hepatic porphyrin content. UV-A or UV-B irradiation also lead to increased total porphyrin contents in the skin of porphyric compared to non-irradiated animals. Clinically and histologically, however, only UV-A irradiation induced lesions, which were comparable to skin manifestations of porphyria cutanea tarda.

Prevention of Occupational Dermatoses due to Formaldehyde in Employees of the Public Health System Occupational dermatoses lead all occupational diseases in employees of the Public Health and Social System in the district of Schwerin from 1977 to 1985. Disinfectants with formaldehyde which mainly produced allergic dermatoses were the main reasons. By substitution of formaldehyde as disinfectant and the accomplishing of contact-free technologies for cleaning purposes, occupational skin diseases in employees of the Public Health and Social System could obviously be reduced.

Prognosis is a crucial topic in contact dermatitis. We recently reviewed the extensive literature on the prognosis of contact dermatitis. The majority of patients in these studies had persistent dermatitis. Job changes usually did not lead to a significant improvement for most patients with occupational contact dermatitis. We performed a worldwide survey of colleagues with expertise in treating patients suffering from occupational contact dermatitis of the hands. Of 65 experts, 51 returned questionnaires for analysis. 67% of European and 29% of respondents from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, United States of America, Canada, and Mexico stated that more than 75% of workers with severe hand dermatitis required a job change. 78% of the respondents found that chromate and 57% found that nickel allergy were associated with the worst possible prognosis. 98% felt that barrier creams were no more effective than bland emollients in the prevention of hand dermatitis.