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Related Experiment Videos

Minimum eliciting patch test concentration of thimerosal.

P Lisi1, P Perno, M Ottaviani

  • 1Clinica Dermatologica R, Università di Perugia, Italy.

Contact Dermatitis
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Thimerosal (a mercury-containing preservative) reactions were common, particularly in younger individuals and contact lens users. Lower concentrations suggest many reactions may be irritant, not allergic, indicating 0.05% pet. is optimal for patch testing thimerosal sensitivity.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Toxicology
  • Allergology

Background:

  • Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, is frequently used in vaccines and medical preparations.
  • Patch testing is a common method for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential hypersensitivity to thimerosal, but optimal testing concentrations remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the frequency and characteristics of positive patch test reactions to thimerosal.
  • To determine the minimum eliciting concentration of thimerosal for patch testing.
  • To investigate potential cross-reactivity with other mercury compounds and sensitivity to thiosalicylic acid.

Main Methods:

  • Patch testing with thimerosal 0.1% pet. on 690 subjects.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Further testing of thimerosal-positive subjects (40/690) using lower concentrations (0.05%, 0.01% pet.) and intradermal testing (1:10,000).
  • Assessment of cross-reactions to other mercury compounds and thiosalicylic acid.

    • Main Results:

    • Positive patch tests to thimerosal 0.1% pet. occurred in 5.8% of subjects, more frequently in younger individuals, those with allergic contact dermatitis, and contact lens solution users.
    • Approximately half of the thimerosal-positive subjects showed negative reactions at 5-10x lower concentrations, suggesting irritant reactions at 0.1%.
    • Optimal elicitation of thimerosal sensitivity via patch testing was identified at 0.05% pet.

    Conclusions:

    • Many positive patch test reactions to 0.1% thimerosal may be due to irritation rather than true allergy.
    • A concentration of 0.05% thimerosal in petrolatum is recommended as the optimal concentration for patch testing to accurately assess thimerosal sensitivity.
    • Further investigation into cross-reactivity patterns is warranted.