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Hypersensitivity to thimerosal: the sensitizing moiety

M Goncalo1, A Figueiredo, S Goncalo

  • 1Clinica de Dermatologia, Hospital da Universidade, Portugal.

Contact Dermatitis
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Thimerosal (TIM) allergy is caused by its mercuric or thiosalicylic acid (TIO) components, not the whole molecule. Patients allergic to TIO should avoid piroxicam due to cross-reactivity.

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Area of Science:

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Thimerosal (TIM) is a preservative with increasing interest in its sensitizing components.
  • Photosensitivity to piroxicam has been linked to the thiosalicylic acid (TIO) moiety of TIM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the sensitizing moiety of thimerosal (TIM) in patients with known TIM sensitivity.
  • To determine the specific components responsible for allergic reactions to thimerosal.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies were conducted on TIM-sensitive patients.
  • Study 1: 175 patients tested with TIO and ammoniated mercuric chloride (HGAM).
  • Study 2: 47 patients tested with TIO and ethylmercuric chloride (ETHG).

Main Results:

  • In Study 1, 45.7% reacted to TIO, 17.7% to HGAM, and 9.1% to both.
  • In Study 2, 87.2% reacted to ETHG, 44.7% to TIO, and 31.9% to both.
  • No patients reacted exclusively to thimerosal (TIM) itself.

Conclusions:

  • Thimerosal (TIM) allergy is attributed to either its mercuric component or thiosalicylic acid (TIO).
  • No cases of sensitivity were found for the intact thimerosal molecule alone.
  • TIM-sensitive patients are primarily allergic to the mercuric moiety, but a significant number are also TIO-sensitive and should avoid piroxicam.

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