Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Foussereau.
Patch-tests made in 13 persons who were allergic to colophony revealed quite different allergologic profiles. Some patients reacted only to abietylic alcohol while others did not react to abietic acid. Methylabietate used as plasticizer in sticking-plasters and especially "hypoallergic" ones, had an allergizing effect in 6 out of 12 cases.
5 commercial patch-test-products were investigated by gas chromatography. Colophony was detected in three of the products, and the allergen was found in the adhesive component.
The coming out of 20 cases of eczema to American cloth, in 1978, motivated a clinical, allergologic and chemical investigation. From a clinical point of view, the lesions were located in areas in contact with American cloth. Cutaneous biopsies, which were carried out in 3 cases, established the allergic eczematous nature of these lesions. Epicutaneous tests were carried out by these patients. With American cloth, results were positive in 20 cases out of 20; six constituents provided by the manufacturer and a standard battery of allergens gave no indication. The chemical analysis of American cloths revealed among others an unknown product which was found in every formulation. This product had a molecular weight of 223; the infra-red spectra and the mass spectra showed a strong analogy with the spectra of alpha-phenyl indole. Tests carried out with alpha-phenyl-indole were positive in 11 cases out of 18; among controls every test was negative.
The well known high allergenic potential of N-phenyl N'-isopropyl paraphenylenediamine (I.P.P.D.), as well as that of N-phenyl N'-1,3 dimethylbutyl paraphenylenediamine, though allegedly milder, prompted us to investigate the allergenicity of a series of N-phenyl N'-alcoyl paraphenylenediamines. We chose an existing technical grade series with substituents ranging from methyl to dodecyl. The results, on laboratory animals (Kligman and Magnusson's maximalization test), and on I.P.P.D.-sensitized humans (ROC Neodermotest, 48th hour) indicate a group sensitization with nearly systematic cross-reactions.
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Intolerance to plant allergens in manufactured products is widespread. Results of epidemiological investigations in STRASBOURG are given. The rate of allergy to sesquiterpenic lactones has fallen since 1974, due to the fact that the use of an ointment containing these lactones has decreased. Disguised forms of allergens are reviewed, for instance limonene of Niaouli oil (Biogaze), colophony of "hypoallergenic" tapes or of testing material. Chemical investigations are useful in prevention and in allergological control of medicaments.
A worker of the textile industry showed an allergic contact eczema caused by diazodiethylaniline contained in diazopaper used in the manufacture of patterns.
The great number of topical preparation containing neomycin and their frequent use for a long period induce a lot of contact dermatitis. It is interesting to detect the importance of cross sensitivity between aminosides among the patients whose dermatitis was caused by neomycin. 15 neomycin eczematous patients were investigated. The research about cross-sensitivity concerned 6 antibiotics: streptomycin, framycetin, ribostamycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, tobramycin. Patch-tests (20 p. 100 in petrolatum) were used in order to show this cross-sensitivity. The results of these tests are nearly the same as in the other studies, as for 5 of the antibiotics; but it is the first time, to our knowledge, that a cross-sensitivity between ribostamycin and neomycin is observed. The cross-sensitivity between these two aminosides can be explained by their chemical structure. There are four rings in neomycin: the main components are neamin and neobiosamin. Only three rings are found in ribostamycin: ribostamycin is constitued of neomycin lacking neosamin of neobiosamin. Thus the structure of the 3 rings of ribostamycin is identical with the structure of 3 out of 4 rings of neomycin. The study about cross-sensitivity between aminosides suggests two conclusions: 1. The use of local antibiotics must be prescribed only when is it really necessary. 2. It seems wise to avoid all systemic aminosid antibiotics for patients who are sensitized by neomycin ointment.
Colophony and its derivatives play an important part in intolerances to sticking-plasters. Gas chromatography revealed resinic acids (derivatives) in numerous products of that kind, even in the so-called "hypoallergic" ones. The profiles of the resinic acids contained in some sticking-plasters that are sold in several countries under identic names, are rather different. The results of physicochemical analysis of Elastoplaste, the normal French product, and of a "hypoallergic" product, coincide with the results of allergologic studies.
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Several compounds containing the alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone moiety have been tested on human volunteers and on guinea-pigs; the animals were experimentally sensitized by alantolactone, isoalantolactone and laurel oil. Of the two new lactones, spirolactone was the more reactive: this was confirmed by both animal and human testing. The synthetic lactones are less reactive than natural ones. alpha-Methylene-gamma-butyrolactone itself does not elicit cross-reactions in guinea pigs sensitive either to alantolactone or to isoalantolactone, or in patients sensitive to sesquiterpene lactones. The alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone group is necessary for cross-reaction, but to be active, it has first to be substituted. It was also found that isoalantolactone, allegedly not allergenic, is in fact a sensitizer and cross-reacts with alantolactone. The cross-reaction between laurel and Frullania, found in man, also occurs in guinea-pigs. It is more evident when sesquiterpene lactone is the sensitizer and laurel used to elicit reaction.
A new way of expressing the concentrations of patch test allergens solutions (or emulsions) is proposed. From these new expressions it can be seen that apparently similar concentrations (0.5% chromium, 2% formaldehyde) can actually be in the ratio 1 to 15 as expressed at the molecular level.
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A contact dermatitis is more often due to skin irritation than to allergic reactions. About 80% of occupational dermatoses are explicable as toxic reactions of the skin, 20% as allergic reactions. Frequency and severity of the diseases depends on the nature and concentration of a substance as well as from the duration of its action on the skin. Defense mechanisms against chemicals are influenced by sebum content, humidity and the integrity of the horny layer. From a practical standpoint it is important to differentiate toxic from allergic reactions in a patch-test. It seems that allergic reactions are diagnosed too often. The determination of the critical non-toxic concentration requires the evaluation of a sufficient number of patients. The differentiation of irritation and allergy is tendered more difficult by individual factors. The therapy of toxic and allergic contact dermatitis is discussed.
Forty-two cases of contact sensitivity to N-isopropyl-N'-phenylparaphenylenediamine (IPPD), an amine antiozonant used in rubber manufacture, were collated from several firms and plants dealing with tyres. Ten motor car tyres manufactured by eight different firms all induce sensitivity reactions in seven subjects allergic to IPPD. Clinical cross-reaction tests show that 100% of the subjects sensitive to IPPD are also sensitive to N-phenyl-N'-cyclohexy-paraphenylenediamine (CPPD), another amine antiozonant, and 37% to paraphenylenediamine (PPD). The various types of tyres were analyzed by gas chromatography and then by infra-red and thin-layer chromatography where necessary. None of the 12 tyres examined was found to be free from aromatic amines. Test reactions carried out with various automobile accessories on subjects allergic to IPPD in tyres gave positive results precisely in those cases where the articles contained IPPD. The authors then studied occupational sensitivity to N-dimethyl-1,3 butyl-N'-phenylparaphenylenediamine (DMPPD), a rubber antiozonant purported to be non-sensitizing and marketed in the United States. The The DMPPD tests were positive for all the IPPD-allergic patients tested; there is no doubt as to the allergenic nature of DMPPD. The irritant and sensitizing potentials of the four amines in question were tested in laboratory animals: PPD proved to be the most allergenic product, IPPD the least allergenic, and DMPPD and CPPD seem to give identical results. All these products produce positive cross-reactions in varying degrees of severity.