ANAPHYLAXIS AFTER DEVITALIZATION OF THE D ENTAL ROOT USING PARAFORMALDEHYDE-CONTAINING MATERIALS

Several hours after treatment of the dental root using paraformaldehyd e-containing materials, 3 female patients developed delayed anaphylact ic reactions that required emergency treatment. In all 3 patients, an allergy to the local anaesthetic was suspected and they were referred to our department for allergy testing; these results were negative. De tailed case history and consultation with the patient's dentists then led us to test for formaldehyde allergy; whereas skin tests yielded di vergent and inconclusive results, high concentrations of IgE antibodie s against formaldehyde could be detected in all 3 individuals. The con tinuous use of formaldehyde-containing dental products is discussed wi th regard to their frequent and potentially life threatening side effe cts and the numerous and critical reports in the literature.