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Purpura caused by Emla® is of toxic origin
Author(s) -
Waardvan der Spek Flora B.,
Oranje Arnold P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1997.tb00915.x
Subject(s) - prilocaine , medicine , purpura (gastropod) , blanching , methemoglobinemia , dermatology , surgery , anesthesia , lidocaine , chemistry , ecology , food science , biology
Emla® cream has been widely used as a local anaesthetic for superficial procedures. Blanching and redness are commonly observed side‐effects. We observed purpura in 5 patients after application of Emla®. Other authors have not reported this before. In 4 patients, purpura was observed after 30 min Emla® application before the treatment of mollusca contagiosa. In 1 patient, Emla® was used for 60 min before taking a lip biopsy. In these patients, patch tests were performed with the individual ingredients of Emla® cream. Emla® cream itself, placebo cream, and Tegaderm® plaster. All tests were negative at an early reading alter 30 min as well as after 2 and 3 days. We concluded that the purpuric reaction was not of an allergic nature. Possibly, it was caused by a toxic effect on the capillary endothelium.