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Photoallergic contact dermatitis to Heracleum giganteum
Author(s) -
KarimianTeherani Daniela,
Kinaciyan Tamar,
Tanew Adrian
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00346.x
Subject(s) - furocoumarins , phototoxicity , dermatology , contact dermatitis , botany , traditional medicine , chemistry , biology , medicine , allergy , immunology , biochemistry , photochemistry , in vitro
Summary Heracleum plants occur in numerous species worldwide and may cause phototoxic reactions due to its content of various furocoumarins. In this case report, a widespread photoallergic contact dermatitis after exposure to Heracleum giganteum (giant bear claw) is described. A photopatch test with extracts from the stem, leaves and seeds of the giant bear claw revealed a positive papulovesicular reaction that already appeared at 24 h and peaked at 72 h after irradiation with 5 J/cm 2 UVA. The unirradiated controls remained negative. We conclude that in rare cases Heracleum plants may cause severe photoallergic reactions that can be verified by photopatch testing.