Studies on the Sensitizing Capacity of Imidazole Derivatives

Abstract

Sixteen imidazole derivatives used as antimycotics for topical and systemic treatment have been experimentally investigated by an advanced sensitization method using guinea pigs. Following initial sensitization, which with other agents usually gives reliable results, only cambendazole was capable of inducing specific hypersensitivity in eight of 10 animals. After the second sensitization step (boosting), seven of the imidazoles remained completely negative, with the remaining eight compounds showing only very weak sensitizing potency. Miconazole, clotrimazole, and econazole, the imidazoles most frequently used, were nearly negative. These experiments clearly show that the imidazole derivatives either possess none or only a very weak capacity for sensitization. These findings are in agreement with the observation that during the last 25 years only 50 cases of allergic contact dermatitis due to those commonly used antimycotic imidazole derivatives have been published.