OCCUPATIONAL PROTEIN CONTACT-DERMATITIS CAUSED BY MEAT AND FISH

Background Protein contact dermatitis is a form of contact dermatitis possibly triggered by proteinaceous allergens. Materials and methods W e report two patients with a history of erythematous and urticarial sk in reactions followed by transformation into prolonged papular symptom s upon contact with proteinaceous material. Results The symptoms repor ted by the patients were reproducible by skin testing with meat (cow) and fish (salmon). Both patients experienced extracutaneous manifestat ions after ingestion of meat and fish, as proven by oral challenge. Sp ecific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies were detected in the patients ' blood. Conclusions Both cases meet all major criteria of protein con tact dermatitis, suggesting IgE-mediated immediate-type hypersensitivi ty with late-phase cutaneous reactions.