Galenic Factors Involved in Sensitization

Various types of additives introduced in the galenic presentation of drugs such as dyes (e.g., tartrazine) preservatives (e.g., parabens) or filling material (e.g., car-boxymethylcellulose, starch) may function themselves as sensitizers or as inert ma-cromolecular carriers facilitating the formation in vitro of eliciting hapten conjugates. Indeed, it has been shown that carboxymethylcellulose, for example, is an efficient carrier for penicilloyl groups, (Schneider et al. 1971) and may by itself act as sensitizer in cattle (de Weck et al. 1969). 

The induction of the immune response to drugs appears to be governed by the same rules and factors that play a role in experimental sensitization to simple chemical compounds. Some factors are inherent to the sensitizing drug, whereas others involve the host. 

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