Carrier Specificity of Tuberculin-Type Reaction to Trivalent Chromium

Abstract

Forty-four patients suffering from contact dermatitis due to chromates gave positive tuberculin-type reactions to chromium chloride, free or bound. These reactions lasted two to six weeks. Out of 20 patients suffering from contact dermatitis to bichromates who were injected with chromium chloride bound to human γ-globulin, eight reacted positively. This may indicate that the tuberculin-type reaction to chromium chloride is a carrier-dependent sensitivity; these patients may be suffering from a partial autosensitization. Those patients who reacted positively to chromium γ-globulin were either clinically in a state of exacerbation or had a tendency to disseminate, or both. Patients suffering from various skin diseases and skin sensitivities not due to chromates reacted negatively to intradermal injections of chromium chloride, free or in the form of complexes.