Hypersensitivity arsenic

This chapter presents specific information with regard to the effects of environmental and occupational exposure to arsenic on inflammatory processes, the immune system, and host defense. While the focus is on the in vivo and in vitro effects of arsenic on host immune responses (e.g., immunotoxicity and hypersensitivity) and their relationship to clinically observed manifestations of arsenic toxicity (e.g., inflammation and skin cancer), information on the potential mechanisms through which arsenic may exert its biological effects is also provided. 

Ingested arsenic localizes to the skin [2, 7], where it may alter cutaneous immune responses. The delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was suppressed in Bowen s disease patients [8], Langerhans cells (LC) in skin lesions and perilesioned skin from arsenic-induced Bowen s disease and carcinomas were reduced in number and were morphologically altered, having a notable loss of dendrites [9], These data suggest that chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water may... 

Patterson, R. et al., Arsenic-induced alterations in the contact hypersensitivity response in Balb/c mice, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 198, 434, 2004. 

Melarsoprol is a divalent arsenical. It reacts with sulfhydryl groups. Melarsoprol is used for the late stage of sleeping sickness. It has to be administered intravenously. Slow i.v. injection is recommended. It is widely distributed and enters the CNS. It has a very short elimination half-life as it is biotransformed to a pentavalent arsenical. Adverse effects include hypersensitivity reactions and gastrointestinal toxicity causing severe vomiting and abdominal pain. CNS reactions are most serious as the encephalopathy may be fatal. Hemolytic anemia may... 

Contraindications Acute renal impairment, organic (short-chain alkyl) mercury poisoning, G6PD deficiency (unless a life-threatening situation exists), hepatic insufficiency (unless due to arsenic poisoning), use of iron, cadmium or selenium poisoning, hypersensitivity to dimercaprol or any component of the formulations... 

Li, Y., Dhankher, O.P., Carreira, L., Lee, D., Chen, A., Schroeder, J.I., Balish, R.S., Meagher, R.B. (2004). Overexpression of phytochelatin synthase in Arabidopsis leads to enhanced arsenic tolerance and cadmium hypersensitivity. Plant Cell Physiol. 45 1787-97. 

For his new work with Treponema, Ehrlich was joined in 1909 by another Japanese collaborator, Sahachiro Hata, an expert on syphilis, who had been the first researcher to succeed in infecting rabbits with the disease. He retested all the arsenic derivatives against Treponema pallidum and identified compound 606 as a particularly potent analogue, which possessed curative activity for infected rabbits. Compound 606 had been prepared in 1907, but it had not exhibited any activity against trypanosomes, and Ehrlich subsequently claimed that this had been due to the incompetence of a former collaborator. This lapse and the problems with hypersensitivity reactions seen in some patients receiving arsenophenylglycine persuaded Ehrlich to proceed with great caution. As a result, very extensive animal tests were carried out before 606 was released to selected hospitals for clinical trials. 

Adams RM (1990) Glaziers. In Adams RM (ed) Occupational skin disease. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 628-629 Barbaud A, MougeoUe JM, Schmutz JL (1995) Contact hypersensitivity to arsenic in a crystal factory worker. Contact Dermatitis 33 272... 

After PINS confirmation, explosive shells are best detonated on-site as even unfused old ordnance can have hypersensitive crystals growing in the exudate that forms in the bottom of the shell as the explosives age. For single UXO on a range, the author believes in the as is where is philosophy for detonating explosive ordnance. Simply build a containment structure and sandbag it over the shell and detonate it where it is. However, chemical shells with Lewisite or other arsenicals will leave behind arsenic, which must be cleaned up after detonation. If not detonated where found for fear of touching off adjacent munitions, or because of the proximity of buildings or people, the UXO should be robotically moved as short a distance as possible for detonation. 

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