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Ethylmercuric chloride: the responsible agent in thimerosal hypersensitivity
C Pirker1, T Möslinger, F Wantke
1Dermatologic and Pediatric Allergy Clinic, Vienna, Austria.
Contact Dermatitis
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Ethylmercury, not thiosalicylic acid, causes thimerosal allergy. Patch testing revealed ethylmercuric chloride as the primary sensitizer, with thimerosal 0.1% causing false positives in allergy diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Toxicology
- Immunology
Background:
- Thimerosal allergy is a concern, but its causative agent remains unclear.
- Previous investigations have not thoroughly examined the components of thimerosal (sodium ethylmercury thiosalicylate).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the organic mercury or thiosalicylic acid component induces thimerosal sensitization.
- To identify the specific agent responsible for thimerosal allergy.
Main Methods:
- Patch testing was conducted on 23 patients with known thimerosal allergy.
- Tested substances included ethylmercuric chloride, thiosalicylic acid, and eight mercury derivatives.
- Control group of 20 individuals without thimerosal allergy was included.
Main Results:
- 82% of patients showed positive reactions to ethylmercuric chloride.
- Thiosalicylic acid did not elicit reactions in patients or controls.
- Thimerosal 0.1% caused false-positive reactions in 4 patients negative to ethylmercuric chloride.
Conclusions:
- The ethylmercury component is the responsible agent in thimerosal allergy.
- Testing with thimerosal 0.1% can lead to inaccurate allergy diagnoses.
- Ethylmercuric chloride is a more accurate diagnostic agent for thimerosal allergy.