title: Home gardening may be a risk factor for contact dermatitis to Alstroemeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational allergy among florists and people who work in cut flower production of Alstroemeria cultivars (Peruvian lily or Inca lily) has been previously reported. The allergen involved in sensitization is tulipalin A (alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone).
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a 65-year-old woman who developed severe dermatitis on her right thumb, index and middle fingers and less severe dermatitis on her left palm and front of forearm with occasional itching of the neck and face after taking up home gardening activities, including cutting flowers such as Alstroemeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient and three healthy individuals were submitted to epicutaneous tests with the European standard series, the plant series, and stem portions of three suspected ornamental plants (Alstroemeria, Lilium and Zantedeschia), garlic, and onion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patch tests performed in our patient, revealed an extreme reaction (+ + +) to Alstroemeria and alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone, a strong reaction (+ +) to propolis and wood tar mix, a weak reaction (+) to balsam of Peru, an irritant reaction to garlic and negative results to diallyl disulfide and the other components investigated. Patch tests performed in the healthy individuals revealed negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We stress the importance of Alstroemeria as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis not only in workers involved in the flower trade, but also in other people that come into contact with this plant in their leisure activities.
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergology Department, Coimbra University Hospitals, Coimbra, Portugal. beatriztavares@net.sapo.pt
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Graça
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chieira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D031402:Alstroemeria / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D051639:Gardening; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors