M. A. Gonzalez

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis in construction workers

We report the patch test results of 449 con in met ion workers who came as patients to tine Occupational Dermatology Service of the Instituto National de Medicina y Seguridad del Trabajo in Madrid between 1989 and 1993. 90.8%. of them were patch tested, because they had cutaneous lesions or a clinical history suggestive of occupational dermatitis. 65.5% (268) of those patch tested showed one or more reactions connected with their work. Chromate at 411 was the main allergen. followed by cobalt, 20.5% nickel. 10%, and epoxy resin. 7.5%. 25.9% (106) of patients showed sensitization to rubber components, the majority at 20.7%, to thiuram mix, with TETD being the main allergen.

Type I and Type IV sensitization to Anisakis simplex in 2 patients with hand eczema

A 34-year-old cook had had eczematous lesions on his face, hands and feet for a year before presentation. He also reported an episode of angioedema after eating a kiwi fruit. He was patch tested with the TRUE Test standard series and the Chemotechnique cosmetics and metals series. At D4 there were positive reactions to potassium dichromate, cobalt chloride, PPD and colophonium. These sensitivities were not related to his occupation. Total IgE was 750 and specific IgE for Anisakis simplex was 90.1kU/ mL. Specific IgE for mussel and fresh anchovy was less than 0.35kU/mL. Prick tests to Anisakis simplex and kiwi fruit were positive. Histamine release was positive to Anisakis simplex and negative to avocado, kiwi fruit and natural rubber latex. Table1. Results of patch tests with Anisakis simplex larvae

Burns due to moxibustion.

Then, 569 patients, ranging from 20 to 70 years, consecutively referred to our allergological service with dermatitis suspected of being allergic in nature, underwent patch tests with the GIRDCA standard series (Trolab, Germany), a textile dye series (FIRMA, Italy) and with 17 textile dyes directly provided by the industry, as listed in Table I. The dyes in this new series were all patch tested at 2% pet. This concentration was chosen as non-irritant, after patch testing in 20 healthy volunteers. Patch tests were applied with Finn Chambers (Epitest, Finland) on Scanpor tape (Norgesplaster, Norway) to the healthy skin of the back, removed after 2 days and read 1 day later. Overall, we found 6 patients (approximately 1%) sensitized to the 8 textile dyes listed in Table 2. 3 of these subjects were atopies. Table 3 shows the SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Occupational dermatitis from glass fiber

10 control subjects gave negative patch test results to the minoxidillotion. Application of minoxidil I % in alcohol 70° (without propylene glycol) on the scalp caused an outbreak of itching papules. Open tests on the forearm (application 3 times daily) caused a strong positive eczematous reaction in 2 days (Fig. 2). Up to the present, several dozen other patients have been treated with minoxidillotion without any apparent adverse affects.