A Case of Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Tropical Woods

Abstract

A 42-year-old woman had been working at the processing factory of tropical woods for about 2 weeks. She developed erythema multiforme-like eruptions on the face, neck and forearms, which then spreaded to the trunk and legs with bulla formation. After treatment with oral corticosteroid, patch tests were carried out. Patch testng with ingredients of 28 materials of the occupational standard allergen series, and eight kinds of the tropical woods which she had been handled showed strongly positive only with the sawdust of so-called purplerose. Purplerose, which perhaps belongs to Machaerium spieces, was imported from Bolivia and used as a rosewood substitute. So, this case was considered allergic contact dermatitis from purplerose. The allergen was suspected of R-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione and its quinols. © 1985, Meeting of Osaka Dermatological Association. All rights reserved.