AIRBORNE CONTACT-DERMATITIS FROM FRULLANIA

7 subjects, each giving a history of scaly or vesicular dermatitis in light-exposed areas after going for strolls to the park, the forest or the country during warm weather, were evaluated. Patch testing was ca rried out with Frullania dilatata and Frullania tamarisci as well as w ith 2 common members of the Compositae and to alantolactone and the se squiterpene lactone mix. All the patients were positive to F dilatata, 3 reacted to F tamarisci as well, and 2 to florists' chrysanthemum. A ll of them except 1 gave positive responses to the sesquiterpene lacto ne mix, but only 3 reacted to alantolactone. Airborne contact dermatit is from these species of Frullania was considered to be the cause of t heir eczema. Patch testing with the sesquiterpene lactone mix seems to be a good screen for Frullania sensitivity; however, a variable patte rn of response to these sesquiterpene-lactone-containing materials was observed, suggesting individual immunologic responses to them. (C) Mu nksgaard, 1994.