Allergic contact dermatitis compounds

Some nickel compounds may be irritant to skin and eyes and dermal contact with nickel can result in allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel carbonyl is extremely toxic by inhalation and should be handled in totally enclosed systems or with extremely efficient ventilation. Air monitors linked to alarms may be required to detect leaks. Respiratory equipment must be available for dealing with leaks. Biological checks (e.g. nickel in urine) should be considered for routine operations involving nickel catalysts. 

Unlike nickel, chromium metal does not produce allergic contact dermatitis. Some patients exhibit positive patch tests to divalent chromium compounds, but these compounds are considerably less potent as sensitizers than hexavalent chromium compounds. A case of chromium (chromic) sulfate-induced asthma in a plating worker, confirmed by specific challenge testing and the presence of IgE antibodies, has been reported. ... 

Goncalo, M., J. Couto, and S. Goncalo. Allergic contact dermatitis from Nicotiana tabacum. Contact Dermatitis 1990 22(3) 188-189. Walhberg, I., A. M. Eklund, and C. R. Enzell. Tobacco chemistry. Six new cembrane-derived compounds from tobacco. Acta Chem Scand 1990 44(5) 504-512. 

The most common adverse reaction to coal tar compounds is an irritant folliculitis, necessitating discontinuance of therapy to the affected areas for a period of 3-5 days. Phototoxicity and allergic contact dermatitis may also occur. Tar preparations should be avoided in patients who have previously exhibited sensitivity to them. 

The other major toxic effect of nickel is nickel dermatitis, an allergic contact dermatitis arising from contact with nickel metal. About 5 to 10% of people are susceptible to this disorder. It almost always occurs as the result of wearing nickel jewelry in contact with skin. Nickel carbonyl, Ni(CO)4, is an extremely toxic nickel compound discussed further in Chapter 12. 

National Toxicology Program (1999) The murine local lymph node assay A test method for assessing the allergic contact dermatitis potential of chemicals/compounds. National Institutes of Health Publication 99 1494. Research Triangle Park, NC... 

Wictorin A, Hansson C. Allergic contact dermatitis from a bismuth compound in an eye ointment. Contact Dermatitis 2001 45(5) 318. 

Organomercurials have been a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis or rash (22) and even exfoliative dermatitis has been described (23). Some reagents for intra-cutaneous testing (tuberculin, etc.) may contain thiomersal, which can cause sensitization and thus elicit false-positive delayed-type skin reactions. Mercury compounds inhibit most lymphocyte functions (SEDA-21, 240). An early indicator of an immunological response to mercury exposure, for example in occupational medicine, appears to be a change in the lymphocyte count with a differential increase in T helper cells and a rise in the T helper/T suppressor ratio (24). 

Allergic contact dermatitis following exposure to thiuram compounds in rubber products, such as disposable rubber gloves, is well recognized (1). 

Hjorther, A.B., Christophersen, C., Hausen, B.M. and Menne, T. 1997. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from camosol, a naturally-occuring compound present in rosemary. Contact Dermatitis. 37 99-100. 

Our data also point to differences between in vivo activity of these two compounds in a T cell-dependent allergic contact dermatitis model in mice (Figure 10.6). Only ZK 191784 showed dissociation of induction of immunosuppressive effects from hypercalcemia over a considerable dose range after oral application. In contrast, calcitriol doses that efficaciously inhibited edema induced hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia. 

There is no established evidence (epidemiological or experimental) for carcinogenicity caused by exposure to Cr(III) or Cr(0) compounds (113, 117). However, allergic contact dermatitis due to occupational exposure to Cr(lll) (primarily in the leather tanning industry) is relatively common (144—146). The safety of oral intake of Cr(III) in food supplements has also been questioned (Section IV.D) (5). A concern about the safety of the use of Cr(0) in stainless steel body implants (e.g., artificial joints or fracture fixation plates) was raised following at least one reported case of bone cancer caused by corrosion of the implant (147). In vitro studies have shown that the corrosion of Cr alloys in human semm leads to Cr(III) binding to serum proteins (148). Such corrosion can also release another possible carcinogen, Ni(II) (149). This problem should be overcome by the use of Ti alloys (free of Cr or Ni), which were introduced as an alternative 10-15 years ago (150). 

Allergic contact dermatitis due to lemon peel oil (among other products) was reported in perfume factory workers routinely exposed to essential oils and related compounds (Schubert 2006). A case of allergy to lemon peel essential oil has been reported and confirmed by patch testing (Audicana and Bernaola 1994). 

Sensitization testing in guinea pigs indicated that blessed thistle is a relatively strong sensitizer. In this testing, crossreactivity to "a considerable number" of other plants in the Asteraceae family was observed (Zeller et al. 1985). Blessed thistle contains the compound cnicin, a sesquiterpene lactone. Such compounds are responsible for allergic contact dermatitis associated with a number of species of the Asteraceae family (Gordon 1999). 

Boneset contains sesquiterpene lactones, compounds that may cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals (Herz et al. 1977 Warshaw and Zug 1996). 

An erythema-multiforme-like eruption following allergic contact dermatitis was reported after contact with elecampane, with the effects attributed to sesquiterpene lactone compounds (Mateo et al. 1995). 

Some henna, particularly that marketed as "black henna," is mixed with the compound para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a black hair dye that frequently causes skin sensitization and has been responsible for numerous cases of allergic contact dermatitis, some of which have caused permanent scarring... 

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