Dermatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dermatitis, including details on contact-, seborrheic-, atopic-, allergic-dermatitis, treatment.

Photoallergic contact dermatitis to Heracleum giganteum.

Karimian-Teherani D, Kinaciyan T, Tanew A

Division of General Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Heracleum plants occur in numerous species worldwide and may cause phototoxic reactions due to its content of various furocoumarins. In this case report, a widespread photoallergic contact dermatitis after exposure to Heracleum giganteum (giant bear claw) is described. A photopatch test with extracts from the stem, leaves and seeds of the giant bear claw revealed a positive papulovesicular reaction that already appeared at 24 h and peaked at 72 h after irradiation with 5 J/cm(2) UVA. The unirradiated controls remained negative. We conclude that in rare cases Heracleum plants may cause severe photoallergic reactions that can be verified by photopatch testing.

Published 20 March 2008 in Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed, 24(2): 99-101.
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