The First Case Report of a Systemic Allergy to OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) in a Healthy Patient

Lorne King Rosenfield; Dean George Kardassakis; Kristen Anne Tsia; Grace Stayner

doi:10.1177/1090820X14532648

The First Case Report of a Systemic Allergy to OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) in a Healthy Patient

Aesthet Surg J. 2014 Jul;34(5):766-8. doi: 10.1177/1090820X14532648. Epub 2014 Jul 1.

Authors

Lorne King Rosenfield¹, Dean George Kardassakis², Kristen Anne Tsia³, Grace Stayner⁴

Affiliations

¹ Dr Rosenfield is a clinical professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, California, and an adjunct clinical professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, California office@drrosenfield.com.
² Dr Kardassakis is a specialist in allergy, asthma, and immunology in private practice in San Mateo, California.
³ Ms Tsia is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, California.
⁴ Ms Stayner is an undergraduate student at Stanford University, Stanford, California.

PMID: 24847156
DOI: 10.1177/1090820X14532648

Abstract

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an allergy to onabotulinumtoxinA. The 43-year-old woman experienced severe itching after injection of Botox and Juvéderm. Results of prick and patch testing confirmed a T-cell-mediated allergy to Botox. This case can aid in the evaluation of suspected allergies to Botox.

Level of evidence: 5.

Keywords: Botox Cosmetic; contact dermatitis; hypersensitivity; onabotulinumtoxinA; systemic allergy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acetylcholine Release Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
Acetylcholine Release Inhibitors / adverse effects
Adult
Anti-Allergic Agents / therapeutic use
Botulinum Toxins, Type A / administration & dosage
Botulinum Toxins, Type A / adverse effects*
Drug Eruptions / diagnosis
Drug Eruptions / drug therapy
Drug Eruptions / etiology*
Drug Eruptions / immunology
Female
Humans
Intradermal Tests
Patch Tests
T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Acetylcholine Release Inhibitors
Anti-Allergic Agents
Botulinum Toxins, Type A