Starch dermatitis: evidence of immunogenicity of surgical glove powder in the guinea-pig.

Guinea-pigs immunized by nuchal inoculation of starch glove powder emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant showed increased thickening of the ear erythema and monoculear inflammation after local injection of 0.1 mg starch compared with similarly treated control animals inoculated with saline and Freund's complete adjuvant. The responses in the ear of the immunized animals were most pronounceed 3-4 weeks after immunization and 24-72 h after local challenge. It is suggested that the inflammatory response in the immunized guinea-pig has 2 components: reaction to a primary irritant in the glove powder and delayed hypersensitivity to an unidentified component of the glove powder.