FS14.4 Gold trichloride as a marker of contact allergy to gold.

Abstract

Objective: To study the usefulness of a trivalent gold salt, gold trichloride (GTC), as a marker for contact allergy to gold. Method: Patients patch test positive or negative to gold sodium thiosulfate (GSTS), 13 subjects of each, were patch‐tested with dilution series of GTC and equimolar concentrations of GSTS; each series started at 0.03 mM and contained 5 steps. In order to avoid false positive and false negative test reactions the salts were dissolved in an alkaline buffer and placed on van der Bend® polypropene chambers. The tests were applied for 48 h; reading was blinded and performed on D3 and D7.Results: Allergic reactions were observed in 9/13 gold‐allergic patients with GSTS and in 2/13 with GTC. The sum of positive reactions was 18 with GSTS and 5 with GTC. Primary toxic reactions: 0 with GSTS and 2 with GTC among the gold‐allergic patients; and 2 with GSTS and 1 with GTC among the controls.Conclusion: GTC can elicit positive patch test reactions in patients with gold allergy but to a lesser degree than GSTS. GTC cannot be recommended for patch testing.