title: A probable role for vaccines containing thimerosal in thimerosal hypersensitivity.
abstract: We patch tested 141 patients with 0.05% aq. thimerosal and 222 patients with 0.05% aq. mercuric chloride, including 63 children. The frequency of positive patch test reactions to thimerosal was 16.3%. There was a marked preponderance in the young age groups after vaccination, while none of 36 infants (aged 3-48 months) reacted to thimerosal. Positive reactions to mercuric chloride were found in 23 (10.4%) of 222 patients. We also sensitized guinea pigs with diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine containing 0.01% thimerosal and succeeded in inducing hypersensitivity to thimerosal. From patch testing in humans and animal experiments, it is suggested that 0.01% thimerosal in vaccines can sensitize children, and that hypersensitivity to thimerosal is due to the thiosalicylic part of the molecule and correlates with photosensitivity to piroxicam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ikezawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013849:Thimerosal; D008627:Mercuric Chloride