Thiomersal (Thimerosal, Merthiolate) home ICD10: L23.9


Formule CAS
C6H8O2 110-44-1



Background
Thiomersal is used as an antiseptic and a preservative in topical medicaments, cosmetics, and vaccines. It should be noted that thiomersal contains two distinct radicals, an organic mercury compound and a thiosalicylate. The allergic reactions may be from either compound. Patients sensitive to thiomersal (Merthiolate) can be divided into three groups: 1) positive to thiomersal but negative to other mercurials and to thiosalicylic acid; 2) positive to thiomersal and to some other mercurials but negative to thiosalicylic acid; and 3) positive to thiomersal and to thiosalicylic acid, but negative to other mercurial.

Synonyms
Ethyl [2-mercaptobenzoato(2 ‹)-O,S]-mercurate(1‹)
sodium Ethyl (2-mercaptobenzoato-S) mercury, sodium salt
Mercurothiolate
Merfamin
Merthiolate
Mertorgan
Merzonin [(o-carboxyphenyl)thio]ethylmercury sodium salt
Sodium ethyl mercurithiosalicylate
Thiomersalate
Thimerosal
Thiomersal

Uses
Antiseptics
Antitoxins
Cosmetics Eye preparations (contact lens solutions, eyedrops)
Skin testing antigens
Topical and systemic medicines (ear and nose drops, Tincture of Merthiolate)
Vaccines

Cross-Reactions

Unusual Reactions

Back to list of contact allergens


Referenties
1. Hannuksela, M., M. Kousa, and V. Pirila, Allergy to ingredients of vehicles. Contact Dermatitis, 1976. 2(2): p. 105-10.
2. Marzulli, F.N. and H.I. Maibach, Effects of vehicles and elicitation concentration in contact dermatitis testing. I. Experimental contact sensitization in humans. Contact Dermatitis, 1976. 2(6): p. 325-9.
3. Iden, D.L. and A.L. Schroeter, The vehicle tray revisited: the use of the vehicle tray in assessing allergic contact dermatitis by a 24-hour application method. Contact Dermatitis, 1977. 3(3): p. 122-6.
4. Moriearty, P.L., C. Pereira, and N.A. Guimaraes, Contact dermatitis in Salvador, Brazil. Contact Dermatitis, 1978. 4(4): p. 185-9.
5. Pedersen, N.B., Allergic contact conjunctivitis from merthiolate in soft contact lenses [letter]. Contact Dermatitis, 1978. 4(3): p. 165.
6. Wilkinson, D.S., Thiomersal. Contact Dermatitis, 1979. 5(1): p. 58-9.
7. Forstrom, L., et al., Merthiolate hypersensitivity and vaccination. Contact Dermatitis, 1980. 6(4): p. 241-5.
8. Sertoli, A., et al., Allergic contact dermatitis from thimerosol in a soft contact lens wearer. Contact Dermatitis, 1980. 6(4): p. 292-3.
9. van Ketel, W.G., Sensitization to mercury from Mercurochrome. Contact Dermatitis, 1980. 6(7): p. 499.
10. van Ketel, W.G. and F.A. Melzer-van Riemsdijk, Conjunctivitis due to soft lens solutions. Contact Dermatitis, 1980. 6(5): p. 321-4.
11. Hirano, S. and K. Yoshikawa, Patch testing with European and American standard allergens in Japanese patients. Contact Dermatitis, 1982. 8(1): p. 48-50.
12. Emmons, W.W. and J.G. Marks, Jr., Immediate and delayed reactions to cosmetic ingredients. Contact Dermatitis, 1985. 13(4): p. 258-65.
13. Fisher, A.A., Allergic reactions to contact lens solutions. Cutis, 1985. 36(3): p. 209-11.
14. Lindemayr, H. and S. Becerano, Interaction of mercury compounds and aluminium. Contact Dermatitis, 1985. 13(4): p. 274.
15. Whittington, C.V., Elicitation of contact lens allergy to thimerosal by eye cream. Contact Dermatitis, 1985. 13(3): p. 186.
16. Melino, M., C. Antonelli, and M. Barone, Contact dermatitis from merthiolate. Contact Dermatitis, 1986. 14(2): p. 125.
17. Novak, M., E. Kvicalova, and B. Friedlanderova, Reactions to merthiolate in infants. Contact Dermatitis, 1986. 15(5): p. 309-10
18. Tosti, A., M. Melino, and F. Bardazzi, Systemic reactions due to thiomersal. Contact Dermatitis, 1986. 15(3): p. 187-8.
19. Bardazzi, F., et al., Contact dermatitis with rosacea. Contact Dermatitis, 1987. 16(5): p. 298.
20. Cox, N.H. and A. Forsyth, Thiomersal allergy and vaccination reactions. Contact Dermatitis, 1988. 18(4): p. 229-33.
21. Cox, N.H., C. Moss, and A. Forsyth, Allergy to non-toxoid constituents of vaccines and implications for patch testing. Contact Dermatitis, 1988. 18(3): p. 143-6.
22. Matsunaga, K., et al., Occupational allergic contact dermatitis in beauticians. Contact Dermatitis, 1988. 18(2): p. 94-6.
23.  Tosti, A. and G. Tosti, Thimerosal: a hidden allergen in ophthalmology. Contact Dermatitis, 1988. 18(5): p. 268-73.
24. de la Cuadra, J., C. Pujol, and A. Aliaga, Clinical evidence of cross-sensitivity between thiosalicylic acid, a contact allergen, and piroxicam, a photoallergen. Contact Dermatitis, 1989. 21(5): p. 349-51.
25. Falagiani, P., Thimerosal in standard antigenic extracts [letter; comment]. Contact Dermatitis, 1989. 21(5): p. 354.
26. Storrs, F.J., et al., Prevalence and relevance of allergic reactions in patients patch tested in North America--1984 to 1985. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1989. 20(6): p. 1038-45.
27. Tosti, A., L. Guerra, and F. Bardazzi, Hyposensitizing therapy with standard antigenic extracts: an important source of thimerosal sensitization [see comments]. Contact Dermatitis, 1989. 20(3): p. 173-6.
28. Aberer, W., G. Gerstner, and H. Pehamberger, Ammoniated mercury ointment: outdated but still in use. Contact Dermatitis, 1990. 23(3): p. 168-71.
29. de Groot, A.C., W.G. van Wijnen, and M. van Wijnen-Vos, Occupational contact dermatitis of the eyelids, without ocular involvement, from thimerosal in contact lens fluid. Contact Dermatitis, 1990. 23(3): p. 195.
30. Landa, N., et al., Allergic contact dermatitis from a vasoconstrictor cream. Contact Dermatitis, 1990. 22(5): p. 290-1.
31. Seidenari, S., et al., Patch and prick test study of 593 healthy subjects. Contact Dermatitis, 1990. 23(3): p. 162-7.
32. Serrano, G., et al., Piroxicam-induced photosensitivity and contact sensitivity to thiosalicylic acid. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1990. 23(3 Pt 1): p. 479-83.
33. Wekkeli, M., et al., Mercury as a contact allergen. Contact Dermatitis, 1990. 22(5): p. 295-6.
34. Aberer, W., Vaccination despite thimerosal sensitivity. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 24(1): p. 6-10.
35. Barros, M.A., et al., Patch testing in children: a study of 562 schoolchildren [see comments]. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 25(3): p. 156-9.
36. de Castro, J.L., et al., Sensitivity to thimerosal and photosensitivity to piroxicam. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 24(3): p. 187-92.
37. Kitamura, K., et al., Cross-reactivity between sensitivity to thimerosal and photosensitivity to piroxicam in guinea pigs. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 25(1): p. 30-4.
38. Lisi, P., et al., Minimum eliciting patch test concentration of thimerosal. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 24(1): p. 22-6.
39. Ortiz, F.J., et al., Allergic contact dermatitis from pilocarpine and thimerosal. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 25(3): p. 203-4.
40. Osawa, J., et al., A probable role for vaccines containing thimerosal in thimerosal hypersensitivity. Contact Dermatitis, 1991. 24(3): p. 178-82.
41. Goncalo, M., et al., Photosensitivity to piroxicam: absence of cross-reaction with tenoxicam. Contact Dermatitis, 1992. 27(5): p. 287-90.
42. Goncalo, S., et al., Allergic contact dermatitis in children. A multicenter study of the Portuguese Contact Dermatitis Group (GPEDC). Contact Dermatitis, 1992. 26(2): p. 112-5.
43. Lim, J.T., et al., Changing trends in the epidemiology of contact dermatitis in Singapore. Contact Dermatitis, 1992. 26(5): p. 321-6.
44. Wong, W.K., et al., Thimerosal allergy and its relevance in Singapore. Contact Dermatitis, 1992. 26(3): p. 195-6.
45. Handley, J., D. Todd, and D. Burrows, Mercury allergy in a contact dermatitis clinic in Northern Ireland. Contact Dermatitis, 1993. 29(5): p. 258-61.
46. Pirker, C., et al., Ethylmercuric chloride: the responsible agent in thimerosal hypersensitivity. Contact Dermatitis, 1993. 29(3): p. 152-4.
47. Meding, B., L. Barregard, and K. Marcus, Hand eczema in car mechanics. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(3): p. 129-34.
48. Moller, H., All these positive tests to thimerosal. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 31(4): p. 209-13.
49. Perrenoud, D., et al., Frequency of sensitization to 13 common preservatives in Switzerland. Swiss Contact Dermatitis Research Group. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(5): p. 276.
50. Sevila, A., et al., Contact dermatitis in children. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(5): p. 292-4.
51. van 't Veen, A.J. and T. van Joost, Sensitization to thimerosal (Merthiolate) is still present today. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 31(5): p. 293-8.
52. Wantke, F., et al., Contact dermatitis from thimerosal. 2 years' experience with ethylmercuric chloride in patch testing thimerosal-sensitive patients. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(2): p. 115-7.
53. Zemtsov, A. and G.G. Bolton, Thimerosal-induced bullous contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis, 1994. 30(1): p. 57.
54. Schafer, T., F. Enders, and B. Przybilla, Sensitization to thimerosal and previous vaccination. Contact Dermatitis, 1995. 32(2): p. 114-6.
55. Zenarola, P., A. Gimma, and M. Lomuto, Systemic contact dermatitis from thimerosal. Contact Dermatitis, 1995. 32(2): p. 107-8.
56. Santucci B., et al, Thimerosal positivities: the role of organomercury alkyl compounds. Contact Dermatitis, 1998;38:325-328.


Author(s):
Allergology: background information on allergens.

31-12-2015 (JRM) - www.huidziekten.nl Terug naar homepagina