Thimerosal in the detection of clinically relevant allergic contact reactions

摘要: Abstract Thimerosal, a mercuric derivative of thiosalicylic acid, is preservative used in several types consumer products, including cosmetics, ophthalmic and otolaryngologic medications, vaccines. As result allergic reactions environmental concerns, its use has declined significantly during the past 2 decades. During 5-year study at University Kansas Medical Center, 574 patients were patch tested to North American Contact Dermatitis Group's standard allergen tray, which included thimerosal. The demographic data from thimerosal-allergic nonallergic persons compared. Statistically significant increases thimerosal allergy found among women, health care workers, secretaries, cooks. Thimerosal-allergic more likely be neomycin, bacitracin, tixocortol pivalate. Despite high percentage our test population, very few these clinically relevant patient's current dermatologic condition. Using Significance-Prevalence Index Number for contrasting this number with other allergens on we propose that either ethyleneurea/melamine formaldehyde or bacitracin would useful than as commercially available screening allergen. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:23-7.)