Acid hydrolases in blister fluid. 6. Photocontact and contact allergic skin reactions.

Increased acid hydrolase activity has been demonstrated in the fluid from experimental suction blisters raised on the sites of contact or photocontact allergic skin reactions. The magnitude of the increases correlated well with the intensity of the reactions. The enzymes appeared after latent periods of 10 h for vesicular reactions, 15 h for papular reactions and 24 h for erythematous responses. The present observations are very similar to those reported following UV-B; thus our previous conclusions regarding the role of lysosomal hydrolases in UVR erythema may be generalized to include other forms of cutaneous inflammation.