Anaphylaxis to isosulfan blue and cross-reactivity to patent blue V: case report and review of the nomenclature of vital blue dyes.
BACKGROUND
Blue dyes used for lymphatic mapping in sentinel lymph node biopsy cause intraoperative anaphylactic reactions in up to 2.7% of patients. With increasing implementation of this technique, the incidence of anaphylaxis to these dyes can be expected to increase. In the literature, the chemically often unrelated and inconsistently designated dyes have been confused, adding to other inconsistencies in the nomenclature.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the nomenclature, chemical and physiologic differences, and allergenicity of the various blue dyes used in a medical context.


METHODS
We describe a patient with an intraoperative grade IV anaphylactic reaction to isosulfan blue. Immediate-type hypersensitivity was proved by positive skin test reactions and CD63 expression to isosulfan blue and cross-reactivity to patent blue V.


RESULTS
A review of the literature clarified the exact nomenclature of the blue dyes and the possible pitfalls of confusing nomenclature in the context of structurally closely related dyes with different allergenic properties. For the detection of type I hypersensitivity, intracutaneous tests are valuable tools. An IgE-mediated mechanism has been shown recently. In most cases, sensitization exists without known previous exposure in a medical context. This may be due to the widespread use of such dyes in objects of everyday life. Preoperative antiallergic medication use does not prevent anaphylactic reactions but apparently reduces their severity.


CONCLUSIONS
For better comparison and precision, the Chemical Abstracts Service number of the respective dye should always be given.
Scherer
Kathrin
K
Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Studer
Wolfgang
W
Figueiredo
Verena
V
Bircher
Andreas J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012882:Skin Tests; D009626:Terminology as Topic
D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C025484:iso-sulfan blue; C008769:sulfan blue