Contact allergy to Manilla resin. Nomenclature and physico-chemistry of Manilla, kauri, damar and copal resins.

16 cases of allergic eczema from a resin used in a surgical adhesive (Alphacopal) are described. Because of the extreme confusion regarding the nomenclature and origin of the resins called copals and damars, this report attempts to give a terminological, botanical, physico-chemical and allergological restatement of this problem. Copals and damars are produced by trees belonging to the Araucariaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Burseraceae families. We suggest that the word "copal" be reserved for the resins of the Caesalpiniaceae and that of "damar" for the resins of the Dipterocarpaceae. The resins of the Araucariaceae are special products that may be called Manilla resin and kauri resin, which are relatively different from each other. As far as the soft resins of the Burseraceae are concerned, it would be appropriate to use the word "elemi". The component resin of the surgical adhesive implicated (Alphacopal) is a Manilla resin, produced by a variety of Agathis dammara (Lamb.) Rich., native to the Philippines. We suggest 3 allergen screening series. Finally 2 pseudo-cross-sensitivities are mentioned.