title: Fatal anaphylactic shock due to a dental impression material.
abstract: Materials used for dental impressions are usually safe. This study describes a case of fatal anaphylaxis that appeared immediately after the oral mucosa came into contact with an alginate paste used for dental impressions. The cadaveric examination and the postmortem toxicology report confirmed that the cause of death was anaphylactic shock. The patient was affected by both cardiovascular and lung diseases that worsened the condition and forbade the use of epinephrine. To the authors' knowledge, dental impression materials, and alginate in particular, have not been reported previously as being a cause of anaphylaxis.
authors.affiliation: School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Elvira Ventura
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardia
authors.forename: Paola L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000464:Alginates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003760:Dental Impression Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003760:Dental Impression Materials; C068744:New Kromopan