[Allergy to Ficus benjamina: at the workplace and at home]

In four patients, two women aged 40 and 42 years and two men aged 49 and 37 years, type I allergy to Ficus benjamina was established. Two patients had been sensitized by contact with these pot plants at their homes. The other two patients were plant growers. F. benjamina is a non-flowering, currently very popular pot plant to be found in both private houses and public buildings. The symptoms comprise itching and swelling of the eyelids, tears, running nose, wheezing and dyspnoea. In one plant grower contact urticaria progressing to dermatitis of the hand was the main symptom. Only one patient had a clear-cut atopy. Both plant growers showed a cross-allergy to other Ficus species. Two patients had a cross-allergy to latex and the associated cluster of tropical fruit (banana, kiwi, avocado, and chestnut). Removal of the ficus plants from the homes and change to another crop or to another occupation completely resolved the complaints of these patients.

An unusual form of localized papulonodular cutaneous histiocytosis in a 6-month-old boy

We report a 6-month-old boy with an unusual form of cutaneous histiocytosis. The lesions were noticed shortly after birth, and there was no evidence of systemic disease. This histiocytic disorder could not be classified according to the Histiocyte Society classification, and was therefore designated an 'unclassified' group II histiocytic disorder. The clinical picture was characterized by dark-red papulonodules with a tendency to coalesce into plaques. Histologically, the infiltrate was characterized by non-epidermotropic histiocytes showing varying degrees of differentiation, eosinophils and lymphocytes, and by the absence of foamy cells and Touton giant cells. As a most conspicuous feature, electron microscopic examination revealed laminated dense bodies, whereas Birbeck granules and comma-shaped bodies were absent. This further distinguished this uncommon variant from the well-known class II histiocytoses. During a 6-month follow-up period all the lesions showed marked regression.

Allergic contact dermatitis from tocopheryl acetate in cosmetic creams

4 cases of cosmetic allergy to tocopheryl acetate are reported. The literature on contact allergy to vitamin E and its derivatives is reviewed.

Cross-reaction pattern of the cationic emulsifier oleamidopropyl dimethylamine

13 patients allergic to the cationic emulsifier oleamidopropyl dimethylamine were tested with a series of related amide-amine type surfactants in order to investigate its cross-reaction pattern. With 1 exception, all patients reacted to at least 4 of the test materials. Most reactions were observed to ricinoleamidopropyl dimethylamine lactate and tallowamidopropyl dimethylamine (11 patients, 85%); 9 patients (of 12 tested, 75%) reacted to lauramidopropyl dimethylamine and 6 (46%) to myristamidopropyl dimethylamine. A certain pattern of cross-reactivity was recognised.

Prostatitis due to penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Case reports

Complicated infections caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) are uncommon. Of two patients with prostatitis due to PPNG, one was cured by cefoxitin followed by co-trimoxazole, the other by co-trimoxazole alone. The potential of co-trimoxazole in the treatment of PPNG-prostatitis looks promising.