Allergic contact dermatitis from potassium sorbate and sorbic acid in topical pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Background: The preservatives sorbic acid (SA) and potassium sorbate (PS) are considered rare skin sensitizers. PS-containing products always contain SA to a certain extent, and positivity to PS may reflect sensitization to SA. Their optimal patch-test conditions are unknown.

The dramatic increase in the rate of methylisothiazolinone contact allergy in Belgium: a multicentre study.

Background: The rate of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis caused by methylisothiazolinone (MI) is dramatically increasing throughout Europe.

Objectives: To report on methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/MI and MI allergy in Belgium.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2012, the medical charts of 6599 patients of the Belgian Contact and Environmental Dermatitis Group were retrospectively reviewed for MCI/MI and MI sensitization by use of a standardized questionnaire.

Occupational airborne contact dermatitis from benzodiazepines and other drugs.

Background: Healthcare workers (or relatives) crushing drug tablets for patients with difficulties in swallowing are at risk of developing sensitization via airborne exposure. Tetrazepam, in particular, is increasingly being described as an important occupational allergen in this regard, although other drugs are also involved.

Objectives: To identify the allergenic culprits in 4 patients, namely 2 nurses, 1 pharmacy assistant, and 1 spouse, who all regularly crushed tablets of systemic drugs and presented with severe airborne dermatitis.

Methylisothiazolinone, an emerging allergen in cosmetics?

Background: A few cases on primary sensitization by, and occupational contact dermatitis from, methylisothiazolinone in paints and glues have been published. In cosmetics, methylisothiazoline (MI) is permitted in a concentration of 100 p.p.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from tetrazepam in nurses.

Background: Tetrazepam is a muscle relaxant belonging to the benzodiazepine group. Drug eruptions following ingestion of tetrazepam tablets are well known.

Objective: To draw the attention to occupational airborne dermatitis and/or hand dermatitis in nurses resulting from crushing of tablets for elderly or disabled people.

Transfusion-induced serum sickness.

Background: Transfusion-induced serum sickness reactions are rarely reported in the literature. The Type III hypersensitivity reaction to heterologous proteins involves deposition of complement and immune complexes in small vessel walls resulting in a leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A case of a multiply transfused patient with several episodes of serum sickness reactions is presented.

Allergic contact dermatitis to DMDI in an office application.

Contact dermatitis to isocyanates is a problem and is usually described within industrial settings. A patient who developed an acute allergic contact dermatitis using a dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (DMDI)-charged cartridge to create resin-coated '3D labels' within an office environment is described.