Contact dermatitis from tantalum

gold sodium thiosulfate palladium chloride zinc chloride ammonium heptamolybdate tin chloride gallium chloride indium chloride chromium trioxide ferric chloride beryllium chloride tantalum chloride iridium chloride silicon tetrachloride copper sulfate rhodium chloride metallic mercury platinum chloride silver nitrate wolfram metal tungsten metal caesium chloride magnesium chloride manganese chloride titanium oxide cadmium chloride niobium chloride vanadium chloride antimony chloride strontium chloride 0.5% pet. 1.5% pet. 2% pet. I% pet. 1% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 0.5% pet. 2% pet. 1% pet. 1% pet. 1% pet. 2% pet. 1% pet. 2% pet. 0.5% pet. !%pet. 0.5% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. 1% pet. 1% pet. 1% pet. 5% pet. 5% pet. tremely itchy, papular, erythematous, vesicular lesions appeared on the overlying skin; which did not improve with treatment. On a visit to Barcelona, he consulted us. The TRUE Test standard series of patch tests was negative, but the augmented special metal series was positive ( + +) to tantalum chloride I% pet. at 2 and 4 days. 228 controls, patch tested with the very same batch of material, were negative. The patient later commented that the strength of the reaction had increased still further after the 4-day reading. On his return to the USA, the prosthesis was removed as the fracture had healed. After 6 weeks of treatment, the lesions then disappeared. On a recent visit to Barcelona, he visited us and we were able to confirm that he was completely cured. The purity of tantalum chloride, supplied by Merck, used in our augmented special metal series, was between 99 and 100%, and it was well dispersed in pet. It was not possible to re-patch test the patient, as he had to return again to USA.