[Contact allergy caused by polidocanol (thesit)]

The paper contains a report on 16 patients with positive patch test reactions to polidocanol (11 women, 3 men, 2 children). The majority of the patients suffered from chronic dermatitis and had further contact sensitizations to antibiotics and to vehicle constituents. The clinical relevance of positive reactions to polidocanol remained unclear in many cases. A positive reaction was reproduced in only two of six cases at a late follow-up examination. A repeated open application test in the antecubital space with two polidocanol preparations for topical application was strongly positive in one case and doubtful in another case. In view of the wide use of preparations containing polidocanol literature reports and our own observations lead us to recommend patch testing with polidocanol in the drug series is recommended for all patients with chronic dermatitis, particularly those with lower leg and perianal dermatitis.