C. Romaguera

Contact dermatitis and adverse oral mucous membrane reactions related to the use of dental prostheses.

The latest trends in the use and composition of dental prostheses have been reviewed, and 66 patients referred by dermatologists and odontologists patch tested. The allergen series used were: TRUE Test™ standard series; Chemotechnique denial screening series; specially prepared metals series. The allergens found to be positive, in order of frequency, were: nickel, cobalt, potassium dichromate, rhodium, palladium, mercury, beryllium, methyl methacrytale, copper and zinc.

Occupational dermatoses from cutting oils.

230 patients with occupational dermatitis in I ho metallurgic industry were studied with standard patch tests (GEIDC) and an oil series. An occupational and clinical questionnaire survey was carried out, Responses to paraphenylenediamine, chrome, cobalt in the standard series, and benzisothiazolone, triethanolamine, and Grotan BK® were the main positive results.

Statistical and comparative study of 4600 patients tested in Barcelona (1973–1977)

The authors show the results obtained during the 5‐year period 1973–1977 in 4600 patch tested patients in the Allergy Department of Barcelona University. The results obtained with the most common allergens (nickel sulfate, potassium dichromate, para compounds, cobalt and rubber) are studied separately. The results of testing with the allergens with a low incidence of positives are also shown. The results are compared with those published by the NACDG on 1200 patients and by Brun in Geneva on 1000 patients; 5.02 % of the tested patients showed sensitization to benzidine.

Contact dermatitis from nickel: an investigation of its sources

Patch tests with the GEIDC standard series of allergens, and with 8 washers made of copper, nickel, nickel‐palladium, palladium, brass, bronze, gold and iron, were carried out in 964 consecutive patients who complainted of intolerance to metals and in 200 controls who did not. All subjects were also questioned as in personal and family history of atopy, occupational contact and intolerance to gold. The results provide support for the substitution of nickel in imitation jewelry with metals such as palladium or bronze.

Human irritant response to qualities and concentrations of cocoamidopropylbetaines: a possible model of paradoxical irritant response

Cocoamidopropylbetatnes arc surfactants frequently used in cosmetics. We have evaluated the irritant capacity of 3 different qualities of cocoamidopropylbetaine, using the following method; patch tests have been carried out with 5 different dilutions in 67 patients and the results read at 2 days by noninvasive methods (direct visualization, transepidermal water loss (TEWL). laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF)). The results with the 3 methods were concordant. However, the results with the different concentrations were paradoxical, as irritancy did not increase at higher concentrations We have tried to explain this by the fact that these substances contain by‐products (free amidoamine and sodium monochloroacetate), the concentrations tested all being above the critical micelle concentration and therefore containing both micelles and monomer. Finally, we believe that noninvasive methods such as TEWL and LDF could be of treat use in the evaluation of irritant contact dermatitis

Flutamide photosensitivity : residual vitiliginous lesions

A case of flutamide photosensitivity is reported in a patient receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Photopatch testing with flutamide at 10 and 20% in acetone was positive and controls negative. Other reports in the literature indicate that flutamide photosensitivity can be produced either by UV‐A or UV‐B, but the small number of reports and the differences in the tests performed do not allow the specific characteristics of flutamide photosensitivity to be established. Presently it would be advisable, due to the frequent use of this drug, to include flutamide in the investigation of photosensitive patients.

New trends in the use of metals in jewellery

Owing, on the one hand, In the constant increase in the %s of nickel sensitization in the majority of allergy departments of dermatology and. on the other, to the fact that sensitization to nickel is almost always through contact with jewellery and imitation jewellery, an update was earned out on the metal alloys principally used in the manufacture of such jewellery (earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, winch straps, etc.) The conclusions of this review demonstrate that nickel is irreplaceable in the majority of the alloys, because of its excellent technical properties and low‐ price and, as a result, the % of sensitizations to this allergen will not only maintain their present high level but will probably increase in the future.

Formulation of a barrier cream against chromate.

A topical cosmetic cream has been developed for use on patients oucupationally sensitized to chromate. Wild the components of this preparation, an in vitro study was carried out. which demonstrated the efficiency of each component. An in vivo experiment on 25 volunteer patients proved, a failure. The formula was modified to produce a new cream. The in vitro and in vivo experiences showed satisfactory results in 60 volunteer patients, 60% of whom benefitted from using it.

Contact dermatitis from cocamidopropyl betaine

In the last 5 months, 706 patients have been studied in our Allergy Department. 93 (83 women and 10 men) were provisionally diagnosed as having cosmetic contact dermatitis. 4 women were positive to cocamidopropyl betaine (CPB) 1.0% aq. (Chemotechnique). This surfactant is mostly used in hair shampoos and skin cleansers. 2 of the sensitized women consulted for scalp itch and erythema on the forehead, ears and neck area, and admitted to having used a new hair shampoo bought in the DDR. In 2 other sensitized women (one presenting eczema on the face, the other on face and neck), the suspected cosmetics were face cleansers. The manufacturer confirmed the existence of CPB in the face creams. In spite of being widely used in shampoos and cleansing creams, references to sensitization to this substance are rare.

Occupational leukoderma and contact dermatitis from paratertiary‐butylphenol

Over the past 2 years we have seen several cases of contact leukoderma in two factories where the etiological agent was paratertiarybutylphenol. This substance was manufactured or formed as an intermediate product in the manufacture of other substances. There were nine cases in total, four in the first factory (Derfesa) and five in the second (Givaudan). In the Derfesa factory we observed four cases with no previous dermatitis, whose only symptoms were localized leukoderma on the hands, wrists and forearms; one of them also had achromia of the genitalia. This factory produces three different chemical products and the workers use special protective clothing. The three products are: