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

Br J Dermatol. 2004 Jan;150(1):143-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05723.x.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • delta-aminolevulinic acid methyl ester
  • Aminolevulinic Acid