Primary Sensitization (primary + sensitization)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


An epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis due to epilating products

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 2 2002
A. Goossens
Over a period of 19 months, 33 cases of acute allergic contact dermatitis from VeetŪ epilating waxes and/or the accompanying tissue (Reckitt Benckiser, Massy, France) were observed in France and Belgium. The lesions started on the legs and spread to other parts of the body, especially the face, and were sometimes so severe that hospitalization and/or systemic corticosteroids were required. Primary sensitization occurred as early as after the first application in several patients. Patch tests were performed in 26 of the patients and produced strong positive reactions to the tissue (25 times) and/or the wax (13 times). The allergenic culprits in the wax were modified-colophonium derivatives (colophonium in the standard series testing negatively in all except 4 patients), while methoxy PEG-22/dodecyl glycol copolymer and to a lesser degree lauryl alcohol turned out to be the main causal allergens in the tissue. [source]


Primary sensitization to inhalant allergens

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2000
Claudia Macaubas
The neonatal T-cell system is capable of responding to allergens at birth, indicating the occurrence of prenatal sensitization, and the cytokine profile of these responses is skewed towards the Th-2 type. This response is further modified by postnatal exposure to different types of allergens. In relation to inhalant allergen (employed by HDM) the low level fetal Th-2 responses in non-atopics appear to be down-regulated rapidly after birth, parallel to an increase in allergen-specific IFN-, production. In contrast, atopics appear to consolidate their initial Th-2 responses, and around the age of 6 exhibit a cytokine response profile similar to the adult pattern. A pre-existing deficiency in IFN-, production may be one of the key factors determining the postnatal persistence of Th-2 responses in atopics. [source]


Hyaluronidase allergy: A rare cause of periorbital inflammation

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Kate Borchard
ABSTRACT Hyaluronidase is a bovine or ovine testicular protein that is used as an adjunct to co-administered medicaments and fluids to enhance their dispersion and absorption through the degradation of hyaluronan. While it is a known potential allergen, there are few reports of hyaluronidase hypersensitivity. A 56-year-old lady presented 8 hours post glaucoma surgery with ipsilateral lacriminorrhoea, periorbital erythema, oedema, proptosis, pruritis and conjunctival chemosis. Right ocular motility was restricted and visual acuity was reduced. The reaction settled with oral corticosteroids and antihistamines. Hyaluronidase allergy was confirmed on skin prick testing. Hyaluronidase allergy is rare. In the few cases reported, reactions occurred at various doses and were acute (intraoperative), early (within hours), intermediate (within days) or delayed (within weeks). Anaphylaxis has also been described. Primary sensitization appears to be a prerequisite for most reactions. The variability in onset of symptoms and the response to skin testing would suggest that type I and type IV hypersensitivity may both contribute to this response. In this case, the timing fitted with a late phase type 1 reaction. This case shows that despite being less common than haemorrhage for acute reactions and infection for delayed reactions, allergy can account for orbital inflammation following ophthalmic surgery. [source]


A novel model of sensitization and oral tolerance to peanut protein

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Jessica Strid
Summary The prevalence of food allergic diseases is rising and poses an increasing clinical problem. Peanut allergy affects around 1% of the population and is a common food allergy associated with severe clinical manifestations. The exact route of primary sensitization is unknown although the gastrointestinal immune system is likely to play an important role. Exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to soluble antigens normally leads to a state of antigen-specific systemic hyporesponsiveness (oral tolerance). A deviation from this process is thought to be responsible for food-allergic diseases. In this study, we have developed a murine model to investigate immunoregulatory processes after ingestion of peanut protein and compared this to a model of oral tolerance to chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA). We demonstrate that oral tolerance induction is highly dose dependent and differs for the allergenic proteins peanut and OVA. Tolerance to peanut requires a significantly higher oral dose than tolerance to OVA. Low doses of peanut are more likely to induce oral sensitization and increased production of interleukin-4 and specific immunoglobulin E upon challenge. When tolerance is induced both T helper 1 and 2 responses are suppressed. These results show that oral tolerance to peanut can be induced experimentally but that peanut proteins have a potent sensitizing effect. This model can now be used to define regulatory mechanisms following oral exposure to allergenic proteins on local, mucosal and systemic immunity and to investigate the immunomodulating effects of non-oral routes of allergen exposure on the development of allergic sensitization to peanut and other food allergens. [source]