[Allergic risks of hemodialysis. Results of an allergologic investigation in 138 patients].

One hundred and thirty eight unselected hemodialysis patients were screened for allergic symptoms, atopy, total IgE, eosinophil count, specific IgE against ethylene oxyde (ETO), formaldehyde (FA) and isocyanates (Iso) and delayed hypersensitivity to formaldehyde. Six patients demonstrated hypersensitivity to formaldehyde. Six patients demonstrated hypersensitivity reactions at the beginning of hemodialysis; one had recurrent urticaria and one aggravated a preexistent asthma. There were no predicting factors but 6 out of these 8 patients (62%) had positive RAST against ETO, FA or Iso. Eczematous lesions occurred in 40 patients (20%) mainly located around the fistula. Eczema is significantly more frequent in men, atopic patients, and patients using a type of machine where we measured high residual FA concentrations (greater than 50 mg/l). A positive FA patch test was observed in 22% of the patients with an eczema compared to 1.3% in the asymptomatic patients (p less than 0.01).