Absence of skin sensitivity to oxides of aluminium, silicon, titanium or zirconium in patients with Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
Some metallic compounds, especially of zirconium, can cause cell mediated granulomatous inflammation of the skin. Pigment granules containing compounds of aluminium, silicon, and titanium have been observed within macrophages in the wall of the small intestine in health and in Crohn's disease. Zirconium compounds can be ingested in toothpaste.


OBJECTIVE
To determine in a pilot study if granulomatous sensitivity can be detected to compounds of these metals or silicon after injection into the skin of patients with Crohn's disease.


METHODS
Eight patients with Crohn's disease known to have had granulomata in the intestine and not currently treated with corticosteroids, and two healthy controls.


METHODS
Two intradermal injections each of 0.1 ml of a 0.02% suspension of one of the compounds made in the abdominal wall of each subject. The site was marked and full thickness skin biopsy performed six weeks later.


RESULTS
A foreign body granuloma was observed on histological examination of two biopsy specimens but no evidence of a cell mediated response in any subject.


CONCLUSIONS
No support was found for the hypothesis that Crohn's disease is due to a specific sensitivity to ingested metallic or silicon compounds.
Lee
J C
JC
Department of Dermatology, St Mark's Hospital, London.
Halpern
S
S
Lowe
D G
DG
Forbes
A
A
Lennard-Jones
J E
JE
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014025:Titanium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C028541:zirconium oxide