Treatment of nickel dermatitis. (The influence of tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (Antabuse) on nickel metabolism)

Nickel is the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in females. The dermatitis can be maintained both by direct contact and by ingestion of nickel. In 9 out of 17 patients suffering from dermatitis, a diet with a low nickel content has improved their condition. Eleven patients with chronic nickel hand dermatitis were given a daily dosage of 200 to 400 mg of tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (Antabuse). Antabuse is metabolized to the nickel chelating substance sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. In eight patients, the dermatitis cleared. Measurements of serum and urine nickel were performed in six patients. One week after the start of the Antabuse treatment, the urine nickel rose from 1 to 3.6 micrograms per 24 hours to 8.3 to 76.0 micrograms per 24 hours. The serum nickel rose from 0.26 to 0.80 micrograms per 1 to 2.0 to 7.7 micrograms per 1. In four patients the serum nickel exhibited a declining tendency during the treatment period. The results suggest that Antabuse is able to reduce the nickel deposits in man.