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

A patient, employed in a plant nursery where cacti are grown, developed wide spread dyshidrotic dermatitis of the hands. This patient was histologically studied and cactus spines were found in several biopsied vesicles.

Kathon CG (K-CG) containing as active ingredients 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and its 5-chloro analogue, is a very effective and widely used preservative system for cosmetics and toiletries. Of 243 patients routinely patch tested because of suspected contact dermatitis 8 (3.3%) reacted to K-CG 100 ppm in water. All but 1 patient allergic to the preservative used cosmetics of 2 brands very widely distributed in the Netherlands, both containing K-CG. The observed positive patch test reactions were shown to be relevant in all these cases. Repeated open application tests were positive in 3/5 of the patients tested. The pertinent literature is reviewed. It is concluded that contact allergy to K-CG is common. Sensitization usually occurs from creams and lotions applied to damaged skin (irritant dermatitis, atopic dermatitis), but some patients become sensitized by cosmetic products used on healthy skin, especially on the face and around the eyes. The risk of induction and/or elicitation of contact dermatitis from the use of rinse-off products such as soap, shampoo and shower foam is small.

4 employees exposed to barium and sodium selenite in the glass industry suffered from dermatitis and/or conjunctivitis. In 2 cases an irritant pathogenesis was assumed; in the other 2 cases both patients developed an allergic contact dermatitis in part with papulo-follicular morphology. Sodium selenite 0.1% in petrolatum is suitable for patch testing.

The proteolytic enzymes of Bromeliaceae (bromelin) are commonly used in pharmaceutical industries, food production and diagnostic laboratories. We report two cases of occupational allergy to bromelin with predominantly respiratory manifestation (allergic bronchial asthma). Obviously sensitisation to bromelin usually takes place due to inhalation and not due to ingestion.

Kathon CG is a commercial preservative, consisting of the two active ingredients, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (5243-K-CG) and other components. 4,5-dichloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (45243-K-CG) is a contaminant in Kathon CG. The chemically related active ingredients are known to be contact sensitizers in humans and guinea pigs. Aims of this study were to determine the sensitizing capacity of this contaminant and also to investigate the cross-reaction pattern by guinea pig sensitization tests. 45243-K-CG was demonstrated to be a strong sensitizer; all animals reacting to 45243-K-CG also reacted to 5243-K-CG when rechallenged.

A 66 year old man from Krefeld experienced shock while tearing open a sack full of fertilizer containing shredded castor beans. After emergency treatment of shock, sensitisation to castor bean was later demonstrated by scratch testing.

70 substances currently used in colouring human hair are reviewed from chemical and structural perspectives. On the basis of structural simularities the question of relationships to known contact allergens, in particular p-phenylendiamine and benzochinones, is examined. Hereby it may be discerned that despite the relatively large number of new substances, the dangers of new potent allergens or cross-reactions with widely encountered existing agents are limited.

In a prospective study the risk of delayed-type hypersensitivity was investigated in 65 patients with atopic eczema (AE) and a noneczematous control group (n = 78) largely similar in age and occupational distribution. The diagnosis of AE was established according to the diagnostic criteria of Hanifin and Rajka. Patch tests were performed using the European standard series. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of contact sensitivity. Atopics showed a significantly higher incidence of reactions to nickel (atopics 28%/controls 6%/p less than 0.01), especially in females (females 29%/9%, p less than 0.05). Sensitivity to nickel could be regarded as a further minor atopic criteria. Patients with AE and simultaneously delayed type hypersensitivity showed significantly higher IgE levels (IgE means = 733 U/ml), than atopics without contact sensitivities (IgE means = 290 U/ml), but no differences in the occurrence of any major or minor criteria.

The influence of sodium lauryl sulfate on physiological properties of the skin surface in children was assessed by continuous measuring of electric conductivity in the course of iontophoresis with physiological solution. The results achieved have shown that even very low concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate (0.1% water solution) provoke changes of physiological properties in the skin surface. A concentration of 0.5% has been established to be the limit concentration of sodium lauryl sulfate which can evidently injure the barrier functions. The degree of changes in electric conductivity was not dependent on the intensity of the skin irritation.

Two patients treated topically against dermatophytes with a naftifine containing antifungal became allergic to the efficacious component naftifine. One of them also reacted to benzyl alcohol. Sensitization experiments in guinea pigs corroborated the suspicion that this allylamine is a contact sensitizer. To date, only few cases of allergic reactions to naftifine have been reported.