RESEARCH ARTICLE


“Heparin Allergy” Secondary to Preservative, Namely Benzyl Alcohol



Craig G. Burkhart*, 1, Craig N. Burkhart2
1 University of Toledo College of Medicine, USA
2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA


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© 2009 Burkhart and Burkhart

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the University of Toledo School of Medicine, 5600 Monroe Street, Suite 106B, Sylvania, OH 43560, USA; Tel: 419-885-3403; Fax: 419-885-3401; E-mail: cgbakb@aol.com


Abstract

Heparin is an injectable anticoagulant that prevents coagulation. There are presently high and low molecular heparins as well as synthetic pentasaccharide inhibitors. Given its ubiquitous use in sensitive medical states, there is a high concern for safety with this drug.

Heparin can induce several distinct immune-mediated reactions. There are several options to consider when heparin allergy occurs including use of direct thrombin inhibitors such as lepirudin and bivalirudin.

Of significant relevance, one must make sure that what appears to be heparin allergy is not, in reality, a reaction to a preservative. Benzyl alcohol is used as a solvent and preservative in many products including high and low molecular weight heparin and heparin lock flush solution. Allergic contact dermatitis from benzyl alcohol is well known and is on many lists of recommended patch test lists for preservatives.