Thimerosal: a hidden allergen in ophthalmology.
We report 36 patients with thimerosal-induced follicular allergic contact conjunctivitis. 18 patients had follicular conjunctivitis without eyelid involvement, while 5 patients had follicular conjunctivitis associated with an allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids; all these patients had been using thimerosal-containing eye drops. A further 13 patients were soft contact lens wearers who became sensitized to their own thimerosal-containing lens solutions. All 36 patients showed a positive patch test reaction to thimerosal, while only 1 of them reacted to an ophthalmic solution. Thimerosal sensitization appears to be clinically relevant in ophthalmic patients.
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Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Italy.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010328:Patch Tests; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005035:Ethylmercury Compounds; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013849:Thimerosal