Allergic contact dermatitis to 5-aminolaevulinic acid methylester but not to 5-aminolaevulinic acid after photodynamic therapy.

Abstract

We report a patient with an allergy induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) following simultaneous treatment with both 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and ALA methylester (ALA-ME). After several PDT treatments the patient presented with acute eczema of the treated areas and itch and hyper-reactivity of the untreated skin. Patch testing demonstrated a strong +++ reaction to ALA-ME only, indicating that derivatives common to ALA and ALA-ME were not involved. This is the first case of allergy to ALA-ME.

• Authors: H C Wulf, P Philipsen
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 150 Issue 1 Pg. 143-5 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 14746630 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• delta-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester
• Aminolevulinic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aminolevulinic Acid (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (etiology)
• Drug Eruptions (etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Patch Tests (methods)
• Photochemotherapy (adverse effects)