title: [Two cases of anaphylactic shock induced by chlorhexidine].
abstract: We reported two patients who developed skin eruptions and severe hypotension immediately after scrubbing their wound in the leg using 4% chlorhexidine solution. Both patients were successfully treated by epinephrine administration. Patient-1 (a 42-year-old man) had his wound scrubbed using this antiseptic several times before the operation. He showed a positive skin scratch test for chlorhexidine. Patient-2 (a 74-year-old man) had no prior treatment with chlorhexidine. Positive lymphocyte transformation test was not demonstrated in these patients. It has been reported that more than 10% of patients with anaphylactic shock induced by chlorhexidine use had previous exposure to it and 80% of them had it used for mucosa or wound washing. From these results, we should keep it in mind that chlorhexidine is not likely to be a safe antiseptic and can possibly induce anaphylactic shock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawana
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Namiki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine