polidocanol and Urticaria

Topics: Biopsy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Polidocanol; Polyethylene Glycols; Sclerosing Solutions; Skin; Urticaria; Varicose Veins

Polidocanol is a sclerosing solution that is highly valued by clinicians and patients for its painlessness, high efficacy, excellent safety profile, low incidence of side effects, and for the rarity of its allergic reactions. Previous estimates of the incidence of allergic reactions have ranged from 0 to 0.06%.. Improved recognition of systemic allergy to polidocanol is desirable for both clinicians and for patients. We have attempted to describe two cases recently observed in our population and to provide an improved upper-bounds estimate for the true population incidence of allergy to polidocanol.. We report two recent cases of mild systemic allergic reaction to polidocanol in a population of 689 exposed patients, for an observed incidence of 0.3% in our patient population. We have calculated a 95% confidence upper-bound estimate of 0.91% for the incidence of polidocanol allergy in the general population.. Allergy to polidocanol may be more common than previously recognized. Careful questioning of previously treated patients and more prolonged observation of patients after treatment may yield a larger number of recognized cases.

Topics: Adult; Drug Eruptions; Female; Humans; Polidocanol; Polyethylene Glycols; Pruritus; Sclerosing Solutions; Urticaria; Varicose Veins

Polidocanol is a widely used sclerosing agent that was first developed as a local anesthetic. In France it is used in varicose veins as well as in telangiectases.. To improve the knowledge of the effects of polidocanol and provide recommendations for better use.. Based on 12 years of experience in treating nearly 11,000 patients with polidocanol, the author reviews his observations. A theoretical model of dilution of sclerosing agents in injected veins is provided.. The author observed: seven cases of minor urticaria, occurrence of grey veil when used under the air-block technique, one case of cutaneous necrosis (5 cm3), and some small epidermic necrosis (1-mm diameter) and neither shock nor severe adverse reaction.. Polidocanol is characterized by its spasmogenic action on veins, excellent local tolerance, and a very low incidence of general reactions. Low concentrations (0.3 to 0.6%) can be used for the treatment of quite large varicose veins if an adequate volume is injected.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Necrosis; Polidocanol; Polyethylene Glycols; Sclerosing Solutions; Sclerotherapy; Skin; Urticaria; Varicose Veins