2001 Volume 47 Issue 8 Pages 540-543
Anaphylaxis associated with dental treatment is usually induced by local anesthetics, latex gloves, antibiotics, and antiphlogistics, but is rarely caused by intracanal medication containing paraformaldehyde.
A 49-year-old woman presented with urticaria about 3 hours after root canal treatment of 4 1 with paraformaldehyde. On the next day, she underwent root canal treatment again with paraformaldehyde, a generalized pruritic rash, facial swelling, dyspnea, and dysphagia developed. These symptoms resolved within 24 hours after administration of hydrocortisone.
Laboratory examinations of the blood showed a high IgE RAST value against formaldehyde, and a scratch test revealed intensely positive reactions. From these results together with her anamnesis and clinical history, we diagnosed her symtoms as anaphlaxis caused by paraformaldehyde.
