F. Grimalt

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.

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.

New resin allergens in shoe contact dermatitis

Changes in the shoe industry have replaced some of the former allergens and introduced some new ones. In 45 cases of shoe contact dermatitis, the lack of response to known allergens inspired the authors to review present‐day industrial shoe manufacture. Two new resin allergens for shoe dermatitis have been found: dodecyl mercapthane and polyurethanes. The first is used in the plastics industry to arrest the polymerisation process. We suggest the possibility that a certain number of Neoprene sensitizations could be sensitizations to dodecyl mercapthane contained in it. The recommended solution for patch testing is: 0.1 % in toluol.

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.

Occupational dermatitis from codeine.

The patch-tests results were as follows. various alkaloids. They were patch-tested to the standard (Spanish) series of GEIDC and to the following materials: Moran et a!. (1) studied 3 patients with dermatitis from alkaloids; 2 were positive to PPD and DDM. We have not been able to establish a chemical structural relationship between PPD and codeine, nor can we explain the association of reactions to codeine and para-compounds in these patients.

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:

Contact sensitivity to meth(acrylates) in a limb prothesis

!. Pilger C, Nethercott J R, Weksberg F. Allergic contact dermatitis due to biocide containing 5chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one. Contact Dermatitis 1986: 14: 201-204. 2. Bruze M, Dahlquist I, Fregert S, Gruvberger B, Persson K. Contact allergy to the active ingredients of Kathon® CG. Contact Dermatitis 1987: 16: 183-188. 3. Bruze M, Dahlquist I, Gruvberger B. Contact allergy to dichlorinated methylisothiazolinone. Contact Dermatitis 1989: 20: 219-220. 4. Bruze M, Fregert S, Gruvberger B, Persson K. Contact allergy to the active ingredients of KaContact Dermatitis 1989: 21: 125

Contact dermatitis from nickel and cobalt in a contact lens cleaning solution.

part of the vamp. This device does not let the foot fall and does not let the leg intraor extrarotate; it helps to keep the foot in the right position for correct ambulation. PTBP-FR is widely used in many adhesive formulations, particularly for leather articles (1). In a large series of 1966 patients (2), positive patch test reactions were reported in 3 (1.5%). Concomitant positive reactions to other phenol-formaldehyde resins are not frequently reported and it is possible that such resins, widely used in equipment for electric insulation, as well as in adhesives, contain different sensitizers (3, 4). Whenever she used the orthopedic foot device, the patient developed dermatitis and sometimes slowly healing ulcers; patch test results confirmed the clinical evidence and indicated that the lesions were caused by the adhesive which fixed the leather covering of the plaster cast to the foam-rubber padding and to the rigid frame. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Turpentine: an attempt to explain sensitization to this allergen in Spain

On turpentine being removed from the standard international series, and seeing that the % of positives in Spain were high, the Spanish group decided to study chromatographically the components of turpentine in order to know which of these components is present in the highest proportion. Various samples of turpentine are studied and the results are shown.