THE ROLE OF EDTA IN PROVOKING ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO SUBCUTANEOUS INFUSION OF APOMORPHINE IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONS-DISEASE - A HISTOLOGIC-STUDY

One of the formulations of apomorphine. used in clinical practice, con tains sodium edetate (EDTA). EDTA is a chelator which indirectly preve nts oxidation of apomorphine. A clinical and histologic study in four patients revealed that apomorphine with EDTA caused severe subcutaneou s nodules, histologically characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate with a large amount of eosinophils, indicating a cell-mediated allergi c reaction. After withdrawal of EDTA. this allergic component complete ly disappeared, which was accompanied clinically by less extensive nod ule formation with a softer consistency. It is therefore recommended t hat EDTA be excluded from apomorphine formulations.