ABSTRACT
Butamben is a local anesthetic that has been used for surface anesthesia of the skin and mucous membranes, and for relief of pain and itching associated with some anorectal disorders. It was also used in epidural anesthesia for the treatment of chronic pain due to its long-duration effect. In a period of 15 years before 1991, in a University hospital in Amsterdam, 10 patients with contact allergy to butyl aminobenzoate (butamben) have been investigated, six before 1980 and the other 4 in the period 1988-1990. Butamben is a p-aminobenzoic acid ester. Therefore, cross-reactions to other ‘para-compounds’ are possible. No cross-reaction to tetracaine. Of 10 patients allergic to butyl aminobenzoate, one reacted to the benzoate anesthetic procaine. A patient sensitized to butamben cross-reacted to a series of homologous PABA alkyl esters including the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl and amyl esters.
