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Cytokines and acute phase reactants during flare-up of contact allergy to gold.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Patients with contact allergy experience cutaneous, as well as general reactions, when exposed systemically to their contact allergen. This study focused on the release in blood of pertinent cytokines and acute phase reactants as a consequence of parenteral allergen exposure.
DESIGN
Ten patients with contact allergy to gold were given one intramuscular injection of gold sodium thiomalate; plasma levels of some cytokines and acute phase reactants were followed for 24 hours.
RESULTS
There was a flare-up of 1-week-old patch tests in all 10 patients; a maculopapular rash in 5 of 10; and a transient fever in 4 of 10. Biochemical analyses showed some increase of plasma levels of several cytokines in most patients, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-ra) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in particular, and of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte proteins. A marked increase of IL-1ra, TNF-alpha, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF RI), neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), human (leukocyte) elastase antitrypsin (HEAT), and CRP was observed mainly in the four patients with fever and general skin reactions.
CONCLUSION
Systemic exposure to the allergen in contact allergy elicits cutaneous and general reactions; at least in the case of gold allergy, it is accompanied by an emergence of cytokines and acute phase reactants.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Möller H, Ohlsson K, Linder C, Björkner B, Bruze M

    Institution

    Department of Dermatology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.

    Source

    American journal of contact dermatitis : official journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society 9:1 1998 Mar pg 15-22

    MeSH

    Acute-Phase Proteins
    Aged
    Allergens
    C-Reactive Protein
    Carrier Proteins
    Cytokines
    Dermatitis, Allergic Contact
    Female
    Gold
    Gold Sodium Thiomalate
    Humans
    Interferon-gamma
    Interleukin-1
    Interleukin-6
    Leukocyte Elastase
    Lipocalins
    Male
    Middle Aged
    Oncogene Proteins
    Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory
    Proteins
    Proto-Oncogene Proteins
    Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
    alpha 1-Antitrypsin

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    9471982