Erythema multiforme from betalactams with positive cutaneous tests.

We report the case of a woman who after taking ampicillin and amoxicillin developed two severe cutaneous reactions with generalized erythema and maculopapular rash, which later turned into blisters with subsequent desquamation. She was clinically diagnosed with erythema multiforme syndrome after positive delayed cutaneous tests with benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin allowed for a more specific diagnosis. There are very few references to patients with drug reactions to betalactams who have positive skin prick or intradermal test but show delayed hypersensitivity, as was the case in our patient.

[Cold urticaria associated with serologic markers of hepatitis B and cryoglobulinemia]. / Urticaria a frigore asociada a marcadores serológicos de la hepatitis B y a crioglobulinemia.

The acquired form of cold induced urticarial syndrome can be found associated with serum cryoproteins, in idiopathic form (generally IgE mediated) and transitory forms associated with other factors. The viral infections, specially infectious mononucleosis and hepatitis B can cause urticaria, mostly chronic, although infrequently produces cold urticaria. We present a case of a 13 year old patient with history suggestive of cold urticaria wherein we have found the existence of a mixed polyclonal cryoglobulinemia, IgG-IgA (exceptionally associated) and serologic markers of hepatitis B, HBsAb and HBsAb (the last being suggestive of a recent infection) 3 months from the urticaria, without recent or past history of hepatitis B infection. We also observed an elevated total serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophilia. The provocation test presented an evolution similar to the cryoglobulinemia and markers of hepatitis B (after 18 months were negative) but serum IgE and eosinophilia remain elevated until the present time. All of this make us think that the patient could have suffered a subclinical form of hepatitis B which triggered off a cryoglobulinemia, presenting as cold urticaria.

Hypersensitivity to mercuric fluorescein compounds.

The mercurial compounds are known to be a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Immediate hypersensitivity is rarely induced by mercurial organic derivatives. However, none of the published cases showed both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity as was the case of one of our two patients. A boy and a woman experienced urticaria and anaphylaxis, respectively after topical application of Merchromine (Merbromine). We were able to demonstrate immediate hypersensitivity in both patients to mercuric fluorescein compounds by skin test and histamine liberation. In addition, the child but not the woman, showed delayed hypersensitivity to mercurial compounds.

[Latex sensitization in 28 patients]. / Sensibilización a látex en 28 pacientes.

We present a review of 28 cases of sensitization to latex. Skin prick test for latex was performed in subjects suspected of having allergy to latex and many fruits. Recently, many publications have evidenced the importance of sensitization to latex. There are well documented cases of intraoperatory anaphylaxis. Frequently, this happens to children with congenital urologic malformations, spina bifida or myelomeningocele, who undergo numerous surgical operations and vesical catheterizations. Latex-induced allergy also affects health professionals, since they are continuously in contact with latex-derived materials. There are other studies that relate latex-induced allergy to several fruit allergies (mainly chestnuts, bananas and avocados). In recent literature some discrepancy exists about the reliability of the prick test and the sensibility of in vitro diagnostic methods. We analyze 28 cases of latex sensitization from our clinic, comparing the most severe cases with the remaining subjects. Atopia antecedents were present in 82%, sub-clinical sensitization in 10 cases, urticaria/angioderma in 5, anaphylaxis in 9, and contact dermatitis in 4. Women were majority, with 22 cases versus 6 males. In patients with latex-induced anaphylaxis, the significantly most frequent feature was previous professional exposure to latex (p = 0.004). Specific IgE was measured by radioallergosorbent test (RAST), finding the highest values in the most severe clinical cases (p=0.0016), comparable to the results of the prick test, which still is the best diagnostic method. In our experience, banana and chestnut-induced allergies were the allergies most frequently associated to latex-induced allergy. There were no adverse reactions in any patient after the prick test.