sodium-bisulfite and Dermatitis--Contact

We report a case of contact dermatitis due to sodium bisulfite in Tathion eye drops. A 72-year-old woman was treated daily with two solutions including Tathion eye drops for senile cataract for two years and three months. She developed edema, swelling, erythema, and vesicles on her eyelids. Because contact dermatitis due to a topical medication was suspected, patch testing was performed after disappearance of her eruption. A positive reaction to sodium bisulfite in Tathion eye drops was confirmed. Therefore, we diagnosed her eruption as contact dermatitis due to sodium bisulfite. The reaction to sodium sulfite in the next patch testing was negative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Japan about contact dermatitis caused by this medication.

Topics: Aged; Antioxidants; Cataract; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Humans; Ophthalmic Solutions; Sulfites

Irritant contact dermatitis to sulfite hair preparations most commonly occurs when users do not follow instructions. Allergic eczematous reactions are very rare; immediate urticarial reactions seem to occur principally in patients with asthma. Pretesting should be done in such patients in a physician's office where medication for the treatment of shock or asthma is available.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ammonium Sulfate; Asthma; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Hair Preparations; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Patch Tests; Sulfites; Syncope; Urticaria