Ethylenediamine dermatitis

32 ethylenediamine-sensitive patients were studied to determine cross-sensitivity reactions. Reaction to other aliphatic polyamines proved to be very high, whereas no significant result was obtained to antihistamines, either topically or orally.

Tyrosinemia type II in two cases previously reported as Richner-Hanhart syndrome

Two sibs with palmo-plantar keratosis and dendritic corneal opacities, previously described as suffering from Richner-Hanhart syndrome by other authors, about 25 years ago, showed increased plasma and urine tyrosine levels. Their neurological and mental features were within normal limits. A comprehensive review of the literature showed a total of 47 cases of fully documented tyrosinemia type II; 8 more patients also had the clinical features of the disease, but aminoacidemia had never been observed. The importance of early diagnosis is stressed, since a low tyrosine-phenylalanine diet dramatically improves the symptoms and may prevent mental retardation.

Complete pterygium unguis

An unusual case of pterygium unguis involving all the nails is reported and the possible causes of such onychopathy are briefly discussed.

Familial Richner-Hanhart syndrome: genetic, clinical, and metabolic studies

The genetic, clinical, and metabolic studies of two familial cases of Richner-Hanhart syndrome (type II hypertyrosinemia are described and the findings compared with other familial cases of palmo-plantar keratoderma. The clinical pictures are identical except that in the latter there are not ocular symptoms and the tyrosine levels are not raised. One of the two patients examined was treated with a diet low in tyrosine and phenylalanine with immediate improvement in clinical symptomatology and complete disappearance of the dendritic keratitis.

Ethylenediamine contact dermatitis

A retrospective study of 50 patients with ethylenediamine allergy revealed that 2 topical products containing ethylenediamine as a stabiliser are the main sources of sensitization in Italy. Some of these patients cross-reacted to piperazine and diethylenetriamine, but none to ethylenediamine tetracetic acid.