Contact dermatitis due to printer's ink in a milk industry employee: case report and review of the allergen paraphenylenediamine.
Paraphenylenediamine is a common cause of occupational dermatoses in hairdressers, metallurgy workers, and others. Hand dermatitis developed in an employee of a milk packaging facility. The employee's hands were exposed to milk cartons embossed with wet printer's ink on a daily basis for 2 years. The worker was evaluated through a history, physical examination, and patch testing with 50 standard allergens. Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to paraphenylenediamine. The hand dermatitis resolved once the patient instituted protective measures. The worker's reaction might represent a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to printer's ink that contained this agent. More likely, the inciting agent was some other ingredient of the printer's ink that cross-reacts with paraphenylenediamine.
Shapiro
M
M
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
Mowad
C
C
James
W D
WD
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000485:Allergens; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C029728:4-phenylenediamine