Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Sulfites are widely used as preservatives and antioxidants in foods and drugs, often without specification. Sulfite can lead to severe hypersensitivity reactions, asthma being obviously the most frequent symptom, but also urticaria, angioedema, or other anaphylactoid symptoms may occur. Furthermore, allergic leukocytoclastic vasculitis and exacerbation of an atopic eczema have been observed. The pathomechanisms of sulfite hypersensitivity have not yet been completely elucidated. Asthmatic reactions have been attributed to reflectory activation of the parasympathetic system by the irritating effect of sulfites, possibly enhanced by a deficiency of sulfite oxidase. Besides this pseudo-allergic mechanism, for at least some cases of sulfite hypersensitivity an IgE-mediated immediate-type allergic reaction has to be considered. The diagnosis of sulfite hypersensitivity is based on provocation testing, which must be done with extreme caution.
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PMID:[Sulfite hypersensitivity]. 365 14

Sulfite is commonly used in pharmaceuticals as a preservative. We report a unique clinical presentation of localized periorbital edema on the left eye after administration of sulfite-containing dexamethasone. The patient's sulfite sensitivity was confirmed by sulfite oral provocation test: periorbital edema on the same site developed after ingestion of 200 mg sodium bisulfite. She was non-atopic and did not complain of any respiratory symptoms. Allergy skin prick test with 100 mg/ml sodium bisulfite showed a negative result. She also has aspirin-sensitive urticaria which was confirmed by oral provocation test. In conclusion, sulfite can induce a localized periorbital edema, an uncommon manifestation in sensitive patients. Further investigations are needed to clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms.
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PMID:Localized periorbital edema as a clinical manifestation of sulfite sensitivity. 887 7