OCCUPATIONAL CONTACT-DERMATITIS FROM PROPACETAMOL

We report 4 cases of contact sensitization to propacetamol. They prese nted with lesions on the hands, forearms, crease of the elbows, and ne ck. They were all sensitized to multiple allergens and 2 of them were atopic. Patch tests to Pro-Dafalgan(R) and propacetamol were positive; sodium citrate and paracetamol were negative. Our cases were similar to those published for the first time by Barbaud in 1995. The only all ergen was propacetamol; patch tests with diethyglycine and paracetamol were negative. Propacetamol chlorhydrate is composed of a complex par acetamol-diethylglycine, which probably acts like a hapten capable of inducing cutaneous allergy. It is an occupational allergy affecting nu rses who work in surgery departments or post-anesthesia recovery rooms , where high doses of analgesics are widely used. The patients were no t allergic to oral paracetamol. Despite the usual precautions, the mix ture of propacetamol chlorhydrate and solvent leaks onto the nurses' h ands, suggesting that health care workers handling propacetamol chlorh ydrate should wear gloves. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.